^  JUN  18  1897  ^ 


BX  8495    .D44  A3  1897 
Deems,  Charles  F.  1820-1893 
Autobiography  of  Charles 
Force  Deems   . . 


Digitized  by 

the  Internet  Archive 

in  2014 

https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofcOOdeem_0 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS,  D.D.,  LL.D. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

OF 

CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 

D.D.,  LL.D. 

PASTOR  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS,  NEW  YORK  CITY 
AND  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE 
OF  CHRISTIAN  PHILOSOPHY 

AND 

MEMOIR 

BY  HIS  SONS 

Rev.  EDWARD  M.  DEEMS,  A.M.,  Ph.D. 

AND 

FRANCIS  M.  DEEMS,  M.D.,  Ph.D. 


New  York      Chicago  Toronto 

Fleming  H.  Revell  Company 

Publishers  of  Evangelical  Literature 


Copyright,  1897,  by 
Fleming  H.  Revell  Company 


THE  NEW  YORK  TVPE-SETTING  COMPANY 
THE  CAXTON  PRESS 


IN  FILIAL  LOVE  THIS  BOOK  IS  DEDICATED  TO 

OUR  MOTHER 

WHOSE  UNSELFISH  DEVOTION,  TENDER  SYMPATHY,  AND  HELP- 
FUL ENCOURAGEMENT  STIMULATED  AND  SUSTAINED 
OUR  FATHER  IN  ALL  HIS  ASPIRATIONS 
AND  ACHIEVEMENTS 


PREFACE 


IN  preparing  this  volume,  the  editors  have  been  impelled  by 
filial  love,  indeed,  but  more  especially  by  the  conviction  that 
Dr.  Deems  was  a  unique  character,  who  lived  through  the 
larger  part  of  the  greatest  century  of  the  ages  and  did  original 
work  for  society.  We  have  been  influenced  also  by  the  con- 
viction that  when  the  reader  sees  how  Dr.  Deems  rose  to  a 
sublime  life  by  perseverance,  industry,  and  faith  in  God,  he 
too  will  be  encouraged  to  make  his  life  sublime. 

If  the  autobiographical  notes  appear  at  times  too  compla- 
cent, let  all  blame  attach  to  the  editors  and  not  to  Dr.  Deems, 
for  he  wrote  for  his  family  only.  In  our  work  we  have  omitted 
his  sermons  and  many  letters  and  articles  written  for  the  press, 
because  of  the  abundance  of  such  materials,  there  being  enough 
for  another  volume.  Nevertheless,  whenever  we  could  tell  the 
story  of  his  life  in  his  own  language  we  have  done  so,  thus 
striving  to  let  him  speak  for  himself. 

Being  his  sons,  we  have  attempted  no  elaborate  estimate  of 
Dr.  Deems's  character  and  work,  but  have  either  quoted  from 
the  estimates  of  others  or  left  this  matter  to  the  judgment  of 
the  reader.  We  take  this  opportunity  to  thank  all  who  have 
sent  us  letters  or  other  material,  thereby  aiding  us  in  our 
work. 

We  now  send  forth  this  book  on  its  mission  of  love,  trusting 
that  it  may  enable  our  father,  though  dead,  yet  to  speak. 

Edward  M.  Deems. 

HORNELLSVILLE,  N.  Y. 

Francis  M.  Deems. 
New  York  City. 
7 


CONTENTS 


PAGB 

Preface    7 


Part  I.  Autobiography 

CHAP.  I.  Childhood,  1820-30  17 

Birth — Earliest  recollections — Parents — Named — The  circus — 
Learning  to  spell — Summerfield's  visit 

CHAP.  II.  Boy  Life  in  Baltimore,  1830-34  .      .      .  .31 
At  the  Osborn  school — Wins  a  prize  for  declamation — First 
speeches — Temperance  work — First  poems  published — Death 
of  his  mother — His  conversion 


CHAP.  III.  College  Life  at  Carlisle,  1834-39    .       .  .43 
Enters  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa. — President  Durbin — 
The  faculty — Dr.  Deems's  classmates — Ruinous  habits  of  study 
— Carlisle  pastors — Escapes  from  drowning — His  ideal  of  a 
college  course — Closes  his  college  career 

CHAP.  IV.  Professional  Life  Commenced,  1839-44  .  .  56 
Offered  a  principalship — Goes  to  New  York  City — Impressions 
of  New  York — William  Cullen  Bryant — Teaching — Methodist 
celebrities — Occasional  preaching — Introduced  to  Miss  Disos- 
way — On  the  Asbury  circuit,  N.  J. — Goes  to  North  Carolina  for 
American  Bible  Society — Accepts  call  to  chair  of  logic  and 
rhetoric  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina— The  Holden  poem 
— The  faculty  of  the  university — Married  to  Miss  Disosway — 
Primitive  traveling  facilities — His  courage  tested  by  the  students 
9 


10 


CONTENTS 


Part  II.  Memoir 

PAGE 

CHAP.  I.  Teaching  and  Preaching,  1844-jo        .      .  .93 

Birth  of  his  first  children— President  Swain— Professor  at  Ran- 
dolph-Macon College— The  "Southern  Methodist  Pulpit" — 
His  views  of  slavery — Pastor  at  Newbern,  N.  C. — General  Con- 
ference at  St.  Louis— Recollections  of  Bishop  Kavanaugh 

CHAP.  II.  President  of  Greensboro  College,  1850-54       .  108 
Moves  to  Greensboro,  N.  C— Successful  work  as  an  educator- 
Advocates  legal  prohibition  of  the  drink  traffic— Receives  the 
degree  of  D.D.— Called  to  Centenary  College 

CHAP.  III.  Circuit-riding,  1855-56  121 

Resigns  presidency  of  Greensboro  College — Everittsville  circuit 
—  Ira  T.  Wyche — Life  in  Goldsboro — Experiences  on  the  circuit 
-David  B.  Everitt-"  Ghost  Elliot  "-"The  Czar  and  the 
Babe" — Glenanna — "Twelve  College  Sermons" — Relations 
with  the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows— Prosecutor  in  a  notable 
church  trial— "  The  Annals  of  Southern  Methodism  "—In  the 
lecture  field 

CHAP.  IV.  The  Wilmington  Parish,  1857-58       .      .  .139 

Appointed  to  the  Front  Street  Church—"  What  I  Know  about 
Fishing  "  —  Interesting  letters— Delegate  to  General  Conference 
at  Nashville— Made  pres  ding  elder  of  Wilmington  district 

CHAP.  V.  Teaching  and  Traveling,  1859-60        .       .  -153 
Moves  to  Wilson,  N.  C— St.  Austin's  Institute— Labors  as 
presiding  elder — Visits  New  York — Meets  Commodore  Vander- 
bilt — Sails  for  Europe — Experiences  abroad 

CHAP.  VI.  The  War,  1861-65  169 

Returns  from  Europe— The  breaking  out  of  the  war— Extracts 
from  his  diary — War  experiences — Breaking  up  of  the  schools — 
Death  of  his  son  Theodore— Removal  to  Raleigh— Close  of  the 
war— Removal  to  New  York  City 

CHAP.  VII.  Settling  in  New  York,  1866-70        .       .  .191 
The  "Watchman  "—Origin  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers- 
Commodore  Vanderbilt's  gift  of  the  church  on  Mercer  Street— 
Formal  opening  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  on  Mercer 
Street 


CONTENTS 


11 


CHAP.  VIII.  The  Church  of  the  Strangers,  1870     .      .  222 
The  constitution  of  the  church— Its  ritual— Its  organizations  for 
work— Miss  Cecile  Sturtevant— The  Sisters  of  the  Stranger — 
Secret  of  the  success  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers 

CHAP.  IX.  Life  in  New  York  City,  1867-71  .  .  .236 
Home  on  West  Thirty-fourth  Street— "  Every  Month"— Mis- 
sion work  at  the  "  Tombs  " — Friendship  with  Alice  and  Phoebe 
Cary  formed—"  Life  of  Jesus  "— "  Hymns  for  all  Christians  "  — 
"  No  Room  for  Jesus  "  —  Lectures— Extracts  from  his  journal- 
Death  of  his  father— Death  of  Alice  Cary— Death  of  Phoebe 
Cary— Punctuality 

CHAP.  X.  Pastor  and  Author,  1872-76  .  .  .  .251 
"Life  of  Jesus  "  published— Vanderbilt  University  founded— Dr. 
Deems's  home  in  West  Twenty-second  Street— His  home  life 
and  traits — Visits  Florida — Reception  on  his  return — Incident 
at  Vanderbilt  University  dedication — "  Locates  "  in  New  York 
—  Unique  church  relations — His  views  of  evangelistic  work — 
Becomes  editor  of  "Frank  Leslie's  Sunday  Magazine  "-Com- 
modore Vanderbilt's  last  sickness— Death  of  Dr.  Durbin 


CHAP.  XI.  Increasing  Activity,  1877-79  ....  270 
Poem:  "Oh,  to  be  Ready ! "—Death  of  Commodore  Vanderbilt 
and  his  funeral  at  the  Church  of  the  Strangers— Southern  tour- 
Receives  the  degree  of  LL.D.  —  Healthful  habits — His  Saturday 
sleep — Visits  Boston — Alumni  oration  at  Carlisle  :  "  Forty  Years 
Ago"— Resigns  editorship  of  the  "Sunday  Magazine  "—The 
"  Deems  Fund  " 

CHAP.  XII.  In  Bible  Lands,  1880  289 

A  Sunday  on  the  sea — In  London — In  Paris — Letters  from 
Greece,  Egypt,  Palestine,  etc. — Visits  the  Victoria  Institute, 
London — Returns  to  America 

CHAP.  XIII.  The  Institute  of  Philosophy,  1880-92    .       .  308 
Reception  by  his  church— History  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Christian  Philosophy — The  "Deems  Lectureship  of  Philosophy  " 
in  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York 

CHAP.  XIV.  Bearing  Much  Fruit,  1881-93  •      •      •  -323 
Identified  with  many  societies  and  institutions— Illustrations  of 
his  wit — Relations  to  the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor— The  "  Soo  Tribe  "—Poem  :  "  The  Banner  of  Jesus" 
—Dr.  Deems  as  a  temperance  advocate— Anniversary  of  twenty- 


12 


CONTENTS 


one  years  of  Dr.  Deems's  pastorate— The  "  Christian  Worker  "— 
"The  Deems  Birthday  Book  "— "  A  Romance  of  Providence  " — 
"The  Gospel  of  Common  Sense" — "The  Gospel  of  Spiritual 
Insight  "—"  Chips  and  Chunks  for  Every  Fireside  "—"  How 
to  Manage  a  Wife  "— "  My  Septuagint  "— Poem :  "The  Light 
is  at  the  End  "—His  last  sermon 


CHAP.  XV.  Euthanasia  339 

Intense  toil — Death  of  Dr.  Moran  and  General  and  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham—Address of  welcome  to  International  Young  People's 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  convention— Thrilling  experience 
in  the  rapids  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River — Stricken  with  paralysis 
—The  year  of  illness— Euthanasia— The  funeral— Laid  to  rest 
on  Staten  Island,  in  the  Moravian  Cemetery — Poem :  "  In 
Memoriam,"  by  A.  M.  N. 


Appendix  353 

I.  Outlines  of  Dr.  Deems's  Last  Sermon— II.  Funeral  Sermon 
by  the  Rev.  James  M.  Buckley,  D.D.— III.  Memorials  of  Dr. 
Deems 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Charles  F.  Deems  Frontispiece 

Charles  F.  Deems  at  the  Age  of  Nineteen, 

Preaching  in  New  York     ....    Facing  page  65 

The  Church  of  the  Strangers,  Exterior      .  203 

The  Church  of  the  Strangers,  Interior       .  •*  222 


IS 


U3  ; 


Copvrialit,  .88q,  by  Wilbxr  B.  Ket.  h: 


PART  I 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 


CHAPTER  I 


CHILDHOOD,  1820-30 

MY  children  desire  some  autobiographical  sketches.  As 
permitted  I  will  write  them  ;  the  writing  may  do  me  good, 
and  what  is  written  may  entertain  my  family.  But  most  sin- 
cerely I  do  not  believe  that  there  will  be  a  hundred  people  in  the 
world  who  will  have  the  least  curiosity  about  my  life  fifty  years 
after  my  death. 

I  am  told  that  I  was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  on 
Monday  morning,  December  4,  1820.  The  house  in  which 
this  event,  so  important  to  myself,  occurred  is  still  (1886) 
standing  on  Lower  Water  Street,  near  what  is  called  the 
"  Marsh  Market."  Baltimore  was  at  that  time  a  little  city  as 
compared  with  its  present  dimensions.  My  very  earliest  recol- 
lections were  bounded  by  the  market  of  which  I  have  spoken 
and  Light  Street. 

One  of  the  first  things  of  which  I  have  any  recollection  is 
that  of  being  in  love,  of  which  I  shall  have  more  to  say  farther 
on  in  these  notes.  My  second  recollection  is  of  attending  a 
circus.  My  nurse  was  a  colored  girl  of  athletic  strength  but 
peculiar  gait,  the  latter  owing  to  a  dislocation  of  her  left  thigh. 
This  circumstance  did  not  seem  at  all  to  diminish  either  her 
strength  or  her  celerity,  while  it  did  afford  me  a  capital  saddle- 
place.  Her  splendid  name  was  Lucretia,  which  the  family 
dreadfully  abbreviated  into  '  Creesh."  She  was  entirely  de- 
17 


18 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


voted  to  me,  and,  I  believe,  loved  me  intensely,  unselfishly, 
and  constantly.  Her  name  for  me  was  "  Bebe,"  which,  I  sup- 
pose, was  a  softening  of  babe,  a  name  too  hard  to  be  given  to 
her  litde  darling.  Creesh  was  accustomed  to  snatch  me  up 
and  toss  me  upon  her  hip,  which  I  learned  to  mount  with  the 
agility  of  a  monkey,  and  then  she  would  go  tramping  through 
the  streets  to  any  kind  of  gathering,  show,  meeting,  or  other 
collection  of  people  which  interested  her.  She  had  a  negro's 
delight  in  spectacular  performances,  and  cultivated  an  acquain- 
tance with  all  the  showmen  that  visited  the  city.  She  seemed 
to  have  a  free  entree  to  all  circuses  but  one.  I  recollect  that 
upon  that  occasion,  when  she  sailed  up  to  the  door  like  an 
ostrich  with  her  little  Arab  at  her  side,  she  was  refused  admit- 
tance without  pay.  She  indignantly  sailed  away.  "  Me  pay? 
You  not  let  this  chile  go  in  that  circus?  No,  sir;  I  would  not 
go  in  a  circus  so  mean  that  would  not  let  me  go  in  without 
pay!"  And  she  flew  back  home  to  tell  the  family  of  the  in- 
dignity which  had  been  put  upon  Bebe  and  her.  She  did  it 
with  a  fiery  eloquence  that  brought  the  whole  family  into  roars 
of  laughter.  My  aunt  Juliet,  with  tears  of  fun  running  down 
her  cheeks,  said,  "  Do  hush,  Creesh ;  you  are  as  good  as  a  circus 
yourself."  But  before  this  she  and  I  had  visited  these  shows, 
and  once  or  twice  I  had  been  put  upon  the  ponies  to  ride.  I 
recollect  that  on  one  occasion,  when  I  was  making  my  round, 
the  life  was  nearly  frightened  out  of  me  by  a  loose  monkey 
jumping  on  the  pony  behind  me  and  striving  to  clasp  me 
around  the  waist. 

The  family,  of  which  Lucretia  formed  no  inconsiderable 
part,  was  small.  It  consisted  of  my  father,  my  mother,  and 
her  half-sister,  who  was  with  my  mother  from  her  earliest 
married  life.  My  father,  George  W.  Deems,  was  of  a  Dutch 
family,  that  came  from  Holland  and  settled  in  Maryland 
somewhere  between  Baltimore  and  Reisterstown.  The  origi- 
nal name,  De  Heems,  eventually  was  shortened  into  Deems. 


CHILDHOOD 


19 


I  have  heard  my  father  tell  that  his  grandmother  had  spanked 
him  soundly  for  speaking  English,  so  perseveringly  did  she 
hold  on  to  her  Dutch.  I  never  saw  my  grandparents  on  either 
side.  I  know  nothing  of  my  father's  family  above  him,  except 
that  they  were  farmers  and  his  mother  was  a  Cole.  If  there 
be  any  great  ancestral  line  I  know  nothing  of  it,  and,  having 
had  an  honest,  excellent,  and  revered  father  and,  as  far  as  I 
know,  plain,  honest,  and  decent  Dutch  grandparents,  I  do  not 
care  to  go  any  farther  back.  I  might  go  farther  and  fare 
worse. 

My  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Roberts.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Zachary  Roberts,  a  Methodist  min- 
ister, who  lived  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  and  who 
was,  I  am  told,  a  cousin  of  the  late  Robert  Roberts,  one  of 
the  bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  My  mother's 
grandfather,  James  Roberts,  was  a  farmer. 

When  my  father  and  mother  were  married,  August  22,  181 1, 
they  were  young  and  poor,  but  giddy  and  gay.  My  mother 
was  especially  devoted  to  dancing.  She  was  a  woman  of 
great  natural  endowments,  which  largely  overcame  her  want 
of  culture.  In  the  early  part  of  this  century  girls  in  her  con- 
dition of  life  had  little  schooling.  But  whatever  she  under- 
took she  did  thoroughly,  and  by  employing  what  time  she 
could  command  from  her  domestic  duties  in  the  reading  of 
books  she  became  exceedingly  well  informed  and  acquired  a 
literary  taste.  She  devoted  herself  to  religion  with  that  ear- 
nestness which  distinguished  her  in  every  department  of  her 
activity.  I  have  heard  my  father  say  that  it  shocked  him 
greatly  when  my  mother  became  religious.  He  thought  it 
would  cut  them  off  from  all  the  pleasures  of  their  lives.  He 
became  very  unhappy.  But  one  day  as  he  passed  her  door 
he  heard  his  wife  in  earnest  prayer  to  God,  pleading  as  for  the 
very  life  of  her  husband.  It  convinced  him  that  true  religion 
but  deepened  and  heightened  and  purified  the  affection  of  a 


20 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


wife  for  her  husband,  and  the  thrilling  tones  of  my  mother's 
prayer  so  followed  him  that  he  determined  to  become  reli- 
gious ;  he  began  to  attend  church.  One  night,  during  a  revival 
in  a  Methodist  church  in  Exeter  Street,  Baltimore,  he  had  a 
profound  sense  of  his  need  of  a  Saviour,  but,  being  surrounded 
by  his  companions  in  pleasure,  he  had  not  the  courage  to  go 
forward  to  the  "altar,"  as  it  was  called,  when  the  invitation 
was  given  to  the  penitents  to  present  themselves.  When  one 
of  the  ministers  came  to  him  as  he  sat  in  his  seat,  betraying 
his  agitation  in  his  manner,  and  invited  him  to  go  and  kneel 
with  the  other  penitents,  he  made  the  excuse  that  he  had 
promised  himself  he  never  would  become  religious  in  that  way, 
and  that  to  go  forward  now  would  be  to  tell  a  lie.  The  good 
old  minister  replied:  "My  young  friend,  count  that  promise 
among  your  other  sins,  and  go  forward  now  and  have  the 
forgiveness  of  all."  The  suddenness  of  the  reply  brought  him 
to  his  feet,  and  he  bowed  with  the  other  suppliants.  But  while 
engaged  in  prayer  he  heard  a  voice  next  to  him  which  he 
seemed  to  recognize,  and,  looking  up,  beheld  the  very  man 
whose  presence  in  the  assembly  had  kept  my  father  from 
earlier  doing  his  duty ;  but  when  he  had  come  to  the  point  of 
discharging  that  duty  his  friend  immediately  followed. 

One  of  the  first  things  my  father  and  mother  did  after  his 
conversion  was  to  erect  a  family  altar,  and  from  that  time 
until  his  death  my  father  carefully  held  domestic  services, 
which  no  business  was  allowed  to  interrupt.  All  visitors  were 
invited  to  join  in  them,  and  at  that  home  altar  I  have  heard 
many  of  the  most  notable  Methodist  ministers  and  laymen 
offer  prayer. 

In  addition  to  my  father  and  mother  there  was,  as  I  have 
already  stated,  an  aunt.  Miss  Juliet  Roberts,  my  mother's 
half-sister,  who  came  very  early  into  the  family,  being  younger 
than  my  mother.  She  remained  while  we  kept  together,  and 
at  the  breaking  up  of  the  family  went  with  me  to  CarHsle  when 


CHILDHOOD 


21 


I  went  to  college.  She  was  a  devoted  Christian  maiden,  and 
while  I  write  these  reminiscences  (1886)  she  is  still  living  in 
Baltimore,  and  spent  last  winter  with  me  in  New  York,  her 
plain  little  Methodist  bonnet  and  general  drab  and  Quaker 
appearance  attracting  attention  to  the  exquisite,  neat  httle  lady 
wherever  she  went.  My  parents  had  had  a  daughter  born  to 
them.  They  named  her  Josephine,  from  my  mother's  admi- 
ration of  the  wife  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  She  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

After  an  interval  of  nearly  eight  years  I  made  my  appear- 
ance. As  children  came  so  slowly  in  our  family,  my  parents 
loaded  me  down  with  names.  They  called  me  Charles  Alex- 
ander Force.  I  do  not  know  what  friend  bore  my  first  name ; 
it  was  some  one  with  whom  my  parents  were  intimate.  The 
Alexander  was  for  a  Mr.  Alexander  Gaddess,  who  dealt  in 
marbles  and  monuments.  He  was  an  excellent  man,  at  whose 
house  I  recollect  to  have  taken  tea  frequently  with  my  parents 
in  my  childhood.  I  visited  him  on  the  same  spot  when  I  was 
fifty  years  old.  The  other  name  came  from  the  Rev.  Manning 
Force,  a  Methodist  minister,  at  one  time  exceedingly  popular 
in  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia.  He  was  an  extraordinarily 
large  man.  His  manners  were  very  pleasing,  and  that  acquired 
him  a  reputation  he  could  never  have  gained  by  his  pulpit 
talents.  He  is  said  to  have  had  two  sermons,  upon  which  he 
played  variations.  The  divisions  of  one  were  "The  World," 
"  The  Flesh,"  and  "  The  Devil,"  and  the  divisions  of  the 
other,  "The  Father,"  "The  Son,"  and  "The  Spirit."  That 
may  have  been  a  joke  perpetrated  by  one  of  his  clerical 
brethren  who  could  not  make  women  and  children  love  him 
as  we  all  loved  "  Uncle  Force." 

On  this  matter  of  naming  children  I  have  held  forth  else- 
where. Parents  do  not  stop  to  think  of  the  effect  which  a 
name  may  have.  The  earliest  display  of  shrewdness  upon 
my  part  which  I  can  now  recollect  was  in  the  change  of  my 


22 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


name.  I  did  not  come  to  be  a  large  boy  before  I  found  that 
my  initials  spelled  c-a-f,  and  I  knew  that  if  I  entered  school 
with  those  initials  it  would  not  be  a  week  before  some  other 
boy  would  perceive  the  effect  of  the  collocation  of  the  letters, 
and  that  then  there  would  begin  a  persecution  to  terminate 
only  with  my  life.  So  as  soon  as  I  learned  to  write  I  signed 
my  name,  "  C.  M.  F."  I  never  told  my  parents  the  secret 
reason  of  the  change,  and  never  have  spoken  or  written  of  it 
before  the  writing  of  these  Hnes.  I  justified  myself  to  the 
family  by  saying  that  Alexander  was  too  big  a  name  for  a 
little  boy,  and,  besides,  that  I  thought  "  Uncle  Force  "  would 
rather  I  should  have  his  whole  name.  Their  affection  for  him 
made  this  really  quite  an  argument,  and  so  I  bore  the  name 
through  college.  A  few  years  after  I  dropped  the  "  M.,"  and 
so  have  passed  through  public  life  with  three  initials  instead 
of  four,  and  a  hundred  times  have  wished  they  were  only 
two. 

I  have  only  three  recollections  connected  with  my  first  resi- 
dence. That  of  the  circus  I  have  already  narrated.  I  am 
not  sure  whether  it  preceded  another  event,  namely,  my  falling 
in  love.  I  was  an  exceedingly  young  man,  wearing  a  little 
frock,  because  I  had  not  attained  to  the  dignity  of  pantaloons. 
She  was  a  very  lovely  little  lady,  but,  as  almost  always  happens 
in  the  case  of  first  love,  she  was  several  years  older  than  her 
admirer.  Her  name  was  Sarah  Ridgeway,  and  her  father  lived 
opposite  our  home.  There  was  a  garden  attached  to  her 
house,  and  I  used  to  persuade  her  to  come  out  and  sit  there 
and  talk  with  me. 

More  than  a  half  of  a  century  has  intervened  between  those 
little  garden  scenes  and  the  time  that  I  am  writing,  but  I  rec- 
ollect as  distinctly  as  if  it  were  yesterday  how  I  sat  by  her  side, 
how  she  held  my  little  hand  in  hers  and  talked  to  me,  and 
how  my  little  heart  filled  almost  to  bursting  with  adoration  of 
her  charms,  and  how,  because  I  could  not  yet  speak  plainly, 


CHILDHOOD 


23 


I  called  her  "  Lallie."  More  powerful  passions  have  swayed 
me  since,  and  I  have  gained  a  more  manly,  profound,  exalted 
affection  for  her  who  has  been  my  fellow-traveler  through 
more  than  half  of  life's  journey ;  but  never  did  I  have  a 
sweeter,  tenderer,  truer  sentiment  than  my  infantile  affection 
for  "  Lallie  "  Ridgeway. 

A  third  recollection  comes  to  me.  It  was  the  beginning  of 
my  literary  pursuits.  As  touching  letters  I  was  a  slow  and 
stupid  child.  At  one  time  it  was  feared  that  I  never  could 
learn  the  English  alphabet.  When  that  was  finally  mastered, 
it  was  several  years  before  I  could  at  all  spell,  and  then  there 
was  a  long  lapse  of  time  between  that  and  my  discovery  of 
the  possibility  of  reading.  Both  these  events  are  as  plain  to 
my  memory  as  if  they  had  been  two  epileptic  fits.  My  father, 
my  mother,  and  my  aunt  Juliet  in  turn  showed  me  letters  of 
all  kinds  and  colors  in  books  and  newspapers  and  placards. 
At  last  it  was  determined  to  send  me  to  a  little  school,  taught 
by  an  excellent  lady,  whose  name  was  Oldham  and  who  resided 
in  a  httle  house  on  Upper  Water  Street,  near  Light  Street. 
She  was  very  kind,  and  I  worked  hard.  At  last  I  learned  to 
spell  a  number  of  words  of  one  syllable.  I  kept  the  precious 
secret  to  myself  for  weeks.  At  last  I  ascended  to  dissyllables. 

These  steps  in  education  were  taken  in  Comly's  spelling- 
book.  How  fresh  in  memory  is  my  own  copy!  When  I 
learned  to  spell  "  baker,"  "  cider,"  etc.,  I  could  hold  my  secret 
no  longer.  My  faithful  Creesh  was  accustomed  to  take  me  to 
school  and  carry  me  home.  One  day  when  my  enthusiastic 
pedagogue  came  for  me,  as  we  passed  out  of  the  gate  I  said, 
"  Creesh,  I  can  spell !  " 

Her  reply  was,  "  Bebe,  hush !  you  know  you  must  not  tell 
stories!"  Poor  thing!  although  she  possessed  no  literary 
acquirements,  she  used  to  stand  by  in  an  agony  of  interest 
while  the  family  attempted  to  teach  me  my  letters.  I  can 
recollect  to  this  day  her  look  of  mingled  love  and  despair 


24 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


when  she  saw  how  unavailing  were  the  efforts  of  my  father 
and  mother  and  aunt  Juhet  to  initiate  "the  sweetest  child 
that  ever  was  born  "  into  the  secrets  of  literature.  No  wonder 
that  after  such  sights  at  home  Creesh  felt  doubtful  of  such  a 
huge  statement  as  that  "I  could  spell  in  two  syllables."  She 
exclaimed,  "  Bebe,  you  can't  learn!" 

"  Yes,  I  can,  though,"  said  I ;  "  you  try  me."  She  incon- 
tinently sat  down  on  the  curbstone  and  took  me  in  her  hip. 
I  opened  the  spelling-book  and  turned  to  the  place.  On  the 
left-hand  page  was  the  picture  of  a  whale,  on  the  right-hand 
rose  the  column  of  dissyllables ;  I  put  my  left  finger  on  the 
first  and  began  to  spell.  Now  the  fun  of  the  whole  scene  was 
that  Creesh  didn't  know  a  capital  "  B  "  from  a  moss-rose,  and 
she  was  the  examiner  of  my  literary  acquirements.  But  Creesh 
had  acute  ears ;  if  it  sounded  all  right  she  passed  it ;  so  when 
I  commenced  "  b-a-k-e-r,"  "  c-i-d-e-r,"  at  each  letter  her  great 
eyes  grew  greater.  She  felt  that  that  was  really  spelling  "  baker  " 
and  "  cider,"  and  the  two  words  were  very  familar  to  Creesh. 
She  used  to  go  often  to  the  baker's,  and  not  infrequently  she 
imbibed  cider  as  a  favorite  beverage.  I  was  about  half-way 
through  the  third  word  when  my  black  ostrich  caught  me  up 
and,  flinging  me  upon  her  hip,  tore  down  the  street  like  some- 
thing wild.  Now  it  so  happened  that  the  entire  family  were 
assembled  around  a  roll  of  carpet  which  was  to  be  laid. 
Creesh  burst  in.  She  was  accustomed  to  call  the  white  mem- 
bers of  the  family  by  the  names  I  called  them.  She  went 
through  the  row  like  a  flash.  "Fazzer!  muzzer!  aunt  Julet! 
Bebe  kin  spell !  " 

"Hush,  Creesh!"  said  my  aunt  Juliet,  who  was  often  very 
impatient.    "  Here  you  are  with  one  of  your  yarns  again." 

"I  'clare  to  gracious,  he  km  spell!  You  t'inks  dis  chile  a 
fool,  but  he  ain't  none!" 

My  mother,  who  was  concerned  about  the  laying  of  her 
carpet,  carefully  interposed,  "  Hush,  Creesh,  be  quiet!" 


CHILDHOOD 


25 


"But,  muzzer,  I  ain't  gwine  to  be  quiet!  Bebe  kin  spell, 
and  you  all  fixin'  the  carpet  when  Bebe  kin  spell,  and  you 
ain't  hearin'  him! " 

My  father  said,  "  Son,  have  you  learned  to  spell?  " 

"  Yes,  sir! " 

"  Well,  now  let  us  hear  you  begin." 

So  I  was  placed  upon  the  roll  of  carpet,  and  the  family 
immediately  grouped  around  me. 

I  have  stood  a  good  many  tests  since  that,  but  few  things 
ever  tried  my  nerves  so  much.  I  was  afraid  that  in  my  ex- 
citement I  should  fail.  That  would  put  Creesh  in  trouble  and 
spoil  my  reputation  for  veracity,  and,  behind  it  all,  I  had  a 
feeling  that  if  I  failed  now  I  never  would  be  able  again  to 
spell  in  dissyllables.  But  I  commanded  myself  enough  to  go 
down  the  entire  "  baker  "  and  "  cider  "  column.  The  gratifica- 
tion of  my  family  was  intense.  My  father  has  since  that  held  a 
volume  of  my  writings  in  his  hands,  but  I  do  not  think  that  I 
ever  gave  him  greater  delight.  Before  the  admiring  eyes  of 
my  fond  mother  and  aunt  there  stretched  vistas  of  great  literary 
acquirements  for  the  beloved  boy,  and  I  can  hardly  keep  the 
tears  back  as  I  now  recall  the  face  of  poor  Creesh.  Her  eyes 
stretched  till  the  whites  were  startling  to  behold ;  her  mouth 
opened  almost  from  ear  to  ear,  and  the  delight  of  her  soul  was 
so  great  that  it  seemed  as  though  she  would  grow  frantic. 
After  the  home  triumph  she  caught  me  up  and  sailed  round 
the  whole  neighborhood,  exhibiting  me  at  every  house  as  the 
Bebe  who  could  "spell  in  two  syllables." 

While  I  was  still  quite  young  my  parents  moved  to  Upper 
Water  Street.  It  was  a  pleasant  residence.  I  have  very  few 
memories  of  what  happened  there,  but  there  are  a  few  things 
important.  I  remember  that  I  still  sucked  my  thumb,  and  the 
family  had  great  difficulty  in  breaking  me  of  the  habit.  I  remem- 
ber my  chagrin,  after  I  had  been  thought  to  have  stopped,  at 
my  mother  looking  out  from  the  window  and  seeing  me  as  I 


26 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


sat  in  the  door,  having  for  the  moment  resumed  my  old  com- 
fort. Her  upbraiding  me  for  want  of  firmness  in  resisting  the 
temptation  stung  me  to  the  very  quick. 

I  recollect  also  that  it  was  at  this  residence  that,  when  some 
money  had  been  given  me,  I  failed  to  resist  the  temptation  to 
make  a  purchase  of  something  good  to  eat  on  a  Sunday  after- 
noon. The  scorpion  lashes  of  my  conscience  for  this  act  I 
shall  never  forget.  Mingled  with  them  also  was  the  shame  of 
having  been  detected,  and  by  my  mother.  Her  good  opinion 
was  my  heaven ;  she  stood  to  me  a  representative  of  the  purity 
as  well  as  the  providence  of  God.  My  mental  suffering,  and 
the  correction  which  she  administered,  effectually  cured  me  of 
all  Sunday  purchases,  and  from  that  day  to  this  I  have  never 
bought  anything  on  Sunday  except  what  seemed  to  be  neces- 
sary medicines. 

I  have  another  remembrance  of  this  residence.  There  was 
high  political  excitement.  Andrew  Jackson  and  John  Quincy 
Adams  were  candidates  for  the  Presidency.  I  was  a  strong 
Adams  boy.  Just  because  I  had  heard  ugly  campaign  stories 
about  General  Jackson.  I  could  not  read.  I  was  too  small 
to  attend  any  meeting.  My  recollection  is  confined  to  certain 
noises  made  in  the  streets  at  night. 

I  also  distinctly  recollect  that  the  watchmen  of  the  city  used 
to  cry  the  hour.  Sometimes  I  would  be  awakened  and  a  great 
awe  would  come  upon  me  as  I  heard  the  watchman  cry,  "  It 
is— ho!  —three  o'clock,  Sunday  morning!  All's  well!"  That 
seemed  to  be  a  municipal  regulation  so  that  the  wakefulness  of 
the  watchmen  of  the  city  might  be  secured,  for  if  a  watchman 
failed  to  make  his  cry  any  household  on  his  beat  could  report  him. 

The  most  beautiful  remembrance  I  have  of  this  residence 
is  a  visit  of  John  Summerfield  to  my  mother.  In  i860  I  em- 
bodied that  remembrance  in  a  letter  to  my  dear  friend,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  for  his  "  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit." 
As  I  cannot  repeat  it  any  better,  I  insert  the  letter  here : 


CHILDHOOD 


27 


"Wilson,  N.  C,  March  i6,  i860. 

"  My  dear  Sir  :  Among  the  very  first  of  my  recollections  of 
men,  and  certainly  of  Methodist  ministers,  is  of  John  Summer- 
field.  Amid  all  subsequent  studies,  travels,  labors,  joys,  and 
sorrows  there  has  followed  me  the  serene  image  of  his  winning 
manners  and  his  extraordinary  face — a  face  so  full  of  strange 
beauty  and  a  suppressed  pain.  None  of  the  extant  portraits 
I  have  been  able  to  examine  presents  that  remarkable  face  as 
it  has  dwelt  in  my  memory.  One  is  so  much  softer  and  more 
girlish,  and  another  is,  especially  about  the  mouth,  so  much 
coarser,  than  the  original.  The  expression  of  a  tugging  pain, 
which  he  seemed  to  be  perpetually  holding  down  by  the  main 
force  of  his  will,  as  a  man  would  hold  a  wolf  which  he  was 
barely  able  to  master,  kept  my  childish  heart  in  awe  before  the 
feeble,  strong  man.  And  yet  something  about  him  so  drew 
my  heart  that  all  toys  and  sports  would  be  left  at  his  approach, 
that  I  would  find  myself  unconsciously  at  his  side.  It  seemed 
so  strange  that  a  man  whose  name  was  in  all  mouths,  and 
whose  wondrous  utterances  in  the  pulpit,  although  beyond  my 
comprehension,  I  could  not  fail  to  see  producing  great  effects 
upon  the  grown  people  around  me  and  exerting  a  magnetism 
over  my  heart,  could  be  playful ;  and  yet,  when  a  blister  was 
drawing  on  his  chest,  I  have  known  him  to  sit  at  the  fireside 
of  my  father's  house  and  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  a  time, 
with  raillery  and  badinage,  exert  himself  to  arouse  me  to  a 
controversy  and  to  provoke  me  to  give  '  as  good  as  he  sent.' 
But  he  always  had  the  upper  hand,  for  though,  when  some- 
times stung,  I  was  willing  to  reply  perhaps  impertinently,  I 
could  never  look  into  his  eyes,  which  had  a  peculiar  and  not 
always  angelic  expression,  without  dropping  the  weapons  of 
my  childish  repartee. 

"  It  was  my  blessed  mother  who  drew  him  to  oiu"  house, 
and  who  has  since  rejoined  him  in  the  city  of  our  God.  Her 


28 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


peculiar,  sympathetic  nature  created  a  strong  tie  between  them, 
and  her  determined  will  and  strong  faith  made  her  such  a  fe- 
male friend  as  Summerfield  always  needed  and  always  appre- 
ciated. She  was  like  an  older  sister  to  Summerfield,  and,  I 
believe,  made  strong  prayers  for  him  daily  and  almost  hourly. 
For  a  time,  while  in  Baltimore,  he  had  his  lodgings  with  Dr. 
Baker,  I  think,  on  the  corner  of  Charles  and  Lexington  streets. 
On  one  occasion  I  accompanied  my  mother  to  see  him,  after 
he  had  been  confined  several  days.  Not  being  allowed  to  go 
into  the  sick-chamber,  I  was  left  to  amuse  myself  with  a 
number  of  toys  in  the  sitting-room  below.  It  seemed  a  long 
time  before  my  mother  returned,  and  I  can  now  distinctly 
recall  her  expression  of  sorrow  for  the  sufferings  of  her  friend, 
and  the  elevated,  saintly  joy  which  the  interview  seemed  to 
have  afforded  her.  Thus  upon  young  and  old  he  exerted  the 
power  of  his  pure  spirit.  I  heard  him  preach  in  what  the 
children  of  my  acquaintance  were  accustomed  to  call  'The 
Round  Church,'  on  the  corner  of  Sheaf  and  Lombard  streets. 
On  this  occasion  his  strength  failed  before  the  completion 
of  his  discourse,  and  he  dropped  his  handkerchief  as  a  signal 
for  the  uprising  of  the  orphan  children,  whose  cause  he  was 
pleading.  The  remembrance  of  his  words  and  tones,  his 
gracefulness,  his  exhaustion,  his  lovingness,  all  united  with  the 
silent  standing  up  of  the  children  to  create  a  most  thrilling 
sensation.* 

"  The  last  time  I  can  recollect  having  seen  him  in  public 
was  at  the  preaching  of  a  sermon  in  Dr.  Breckenridge's  church, 
in  Eastern  Baltimore  Street.  A  large  body  of  military  was 
present.  I  recall  not  a  word  of  the  discourse,  and  only  have 
in  my  remembrance  the  contrast  between  the  helmeted  and 

*  Upon  reflection,  I  think  I  may  have  confounded  two  things.  I  heard 
the  sermon,  and  I  also  heard  Summerfield  preach  in  that  church,  which  be- 
longed, I  believe,  to  the  Baptist  denomination ;  but  whether  I  heard  that 
sermon  in  that  church  I  do  not  so  well  remember. 


CHILDHOOD 


29 


uniformed  soldiery  and  the  serene,  placid,  pure  young  preacher, 
who  stood  up  amid  them,  setting  the  story  of  the  cross  to  the 
music  of  his  intonations,  and  teUing  it  with  the  ardor  of  his 
elevated  and  holy  enthusiasm ;  and  I  remember  how  deeply  I 
felt  his  irrepressible  devotion  to  the  ministry',  by  a  remark  of 
my  mother  as  we  were  threading  our  way  out  through  the 
crowd :  '  Dear  fellow,  three  blister-plasters  on  him,  and  he 
talking  so  like  an  angel ! ' 

"The  most  vivid  picture  before  me  is  Summerfield's  last 
visit  to  my  father's  house.  After  an  earnest  conversation  with 
my  mother  about  matters  of  religion  and  the  church,  which  I 
could  not  understand,  he  turned  to  me,  and  commenced,  in 
his  playful  way,  to  get  up  a  battle.  'And,  Charlie,  what  is 
your  middle  name?'  'Why,  Uncle  Summerfield,  I  told  you 
long  ago,  and  you  ought  to  remember.'  '  Oh,  I  am  such  a 
forgetful  fellow,  please  tell  me  again.'  And  I  told  him  again. 
'Frosty!  Frosty!  What  a  cold  name  for  a  warm  boy!' 
'  Not  Frosty,  Uncle  Summerfield,  not  Frosty ;  you  know  as 
well  as  I  do  that  it  is  not  Frosty.'  '  Do  tell  me  again!  Sister 
Deems,  am  I  growing  old  and  deaf?  '  And  so  for  a  long  time 
we  had  it,  and  I  never  could  determine  whether  he  really  did 
misunderstand  me,  or  was  merely  making  game  of  me.  At 
last  he  dropped  it  all,  and  calling  me  to  him,  told  me  that  he 
was  going  away,  perhaps  never  to  return,  and  that  he  wished 
to  pray  with  my  mother  and  me  before  we  parted.  We  knelt, 
my  mother  at  her  own  chair,  and  I  beside  Mr.  Summerfield's. 
His  intonations  and  emphasis  were  always  peculiar  to  my  ear, 
and  especially  on  this  occasion.  I  paid  little  attention  to  the 
prayer  until  it  became  personal  to  the  family.  He  prayed  for 
my  father,  and  then  with  what  tender,  loving  tones  for  my 
mother,  that,  whereas  to  him,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  she 
had  been  such  a  comfort,  so  her  boy  might,  everywhere  in  life, 
find  friends  to  sustain  and  console  him.  And  then  he  interlaced 
his  fingers,  and  bringing  his  hand  like  a  band  over  my  head, 


30 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


he  prayed  most  impressively  and  especially  for  me,  that  God 
would  call  me  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Up  from  under 
these  hands  I  peeped,  child  as  I  was,  to  see  how  he  looked, 
and  down  into  my  heart  there  sank  a  picture  whose  hnes  are 
as  sharp  and  whose  coloring  as  fresh  this  day  as  they  were  the 
day  it  took  its  place  in  the  gallery  of  my  memory.  Just  in 
that  picture,  and  with  that  look,  I  have  preserved  Summerfield 
to  myself.  It  was  a  look  of  awe,  of  gratitude,  of  exaltation, 
and  of  tenderness.  He  seemed  so  full  of  the  thought  of  the 
solemnity  of  talking  with  God,  and  the  pain  of  parting  from 
a  cherished  friend,  of  gratitude  to  God  for  putting  him  into 
the  ministry  of  Jesus,  and  an  appreciation  of  the  grandeur  of 
that  work,  and  a  feeling  of  tenderness  to  all  who  had  loved 
him  therein,  and  a  sense  of  the  responsibility  of  invoking  a 
blessing  even  upon  a  boy !  The  face  was  lovely  and  great  and 
luminous. 

"  He  arose,  and  with  humid  eyes  left  us,  never  to  return. 
And  my  mother  sat  and  wept.  And  I  was  thoughtful.  I  did 
not  like  that  prayer,  dear  Dr.  Sprague.  I  did  not  say  in  my 
heart,  'Amen;'  for  I  did  not  want  to  preach  the  gospel  with 
blister-plasters  on  my  back  and  breast.  And  in  after  years, 
when  the  question  of  the  ministry  came  home  to  my  con- 
science, I  had  great  disturbance  lest  my  call  might  be  only 
from  Summerfield  and  not  also  from  my  God. 

"  I  have  written  these  paragraphs  to  present  an  account  of 
the  impression  this  blessed  young  minister  of  Jesus  made  upon 
women  and  children,  that  being,  in  my  humble  judgment,  the 
best  criterion  known  to  men  of  the  real  character  of  their 
fellows. 

"  I  am,  my  dear  sir,  most  sincerely  yours, 

"C.  F.  Deems." 


CHAPTER  II 


BOY  LIFE  IN  BALTIMORE,  1830-34 

From  some  personal  recollections,  dated  May  10,  1839,  written  just  be- 
fore leaving  college,  the  following  extracts  are  made. 

IN  May  of  1830  my  mother  and  myself  paid  a  visit  to  Philadel- 
phia, to  the  family  of  the  Rev.  Manning  Force,  from  whom 
I  received  my  middle  name.  Being  only  nine  years  of  age, 
of  course  I  remember  but  little  of  the  city,  and  need  only  record 
the  recollection  I  have  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sargeant  and  his  kind 
family.  The  doctor  has  since  deceased.  He  was  struck  with 
paralysis  while  preaching.  While  in  Philadelphia  my  mother 
felt  the  first  symptoms  of  the  disease  which  terminated  in  her 
death.  What  that  disease  was  I  have  never  been  able  to 
learn. 

On  my  return  from  Philadelphia  I  was  placed  in  the  school 
of  the  Rev.  V.  R.  Osborn.  I  can  never  forget  the  love  which 
I  entertained  for  this  gentleman ;  mild  and  benignant,  he  won 
my  esteem,  and  inspired  in  me  an  affection  for  himself  and 
his  family  which  will  last  forever.  He  was  in  Baltimore  some 
time  before  he  brought  on  his  family  from  New  England,  and 
he  treated  me  as  kindly  as  though  I  had  been  his  son.  This 
familiarity  with  our  family  attached  him  to  us  all,  and  I  looked 
upon  him  more  as  a  relative  than  a  schoolmaster. 

[A  break  in  the  autobiographical  notes  occurs  at  this  point, 
but  the  substance  of  the  incident  whose  close  is  narrated  in 
the  next  paragraph  we  give  from  our  recollection  of  Dr. 
31 


32 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Deems's  account  of  it.  It  appears  that  in  a  hall  in  Baltimore 
there  was  held  a  pubhc  competition,  by  boys  from  the  schools 
of  the  city,  for  a  gold  medal  to  be  awarded  to  the  youth  who 
should  deliver  the  best  declamation.  Among  other  competitors 
appeared  Charles  Deems,  of  Mr.  Osborn's  school.  When  his 
name  was  called,  with  great  inward  trepidation  he  stepped 
forward  and  delivered  his  declamation  with  all  the  energy  and 
oratorical  effect  that  he  could  command.  — Ed.] 

With  the  closing  words,  "  A  patriot  Tell,  a  Bruce  of  Ban- 
nockburn,"  I  sank  back  to  my  seat  perfectly  exhausted.  The 
judges  communed  for  a  few  minutes,  when  the  president  of  the 
board  announced  that,  with  but  one  single  opposing  vote,  I 
was  declared  victor.  The  loud  expression  of  congratulation 
which  greeted  the  announcement  was  the  sweetest  music  that 
has  ever  fallen  on  my  ear.  From  the  hall  I  hastened  to  the 
embrace  of  my  mother,  who  was  detained  by  sickness,  and  the 
excitement  of  the  afternoon  confined  me  to  my  bed.  My 
medal  bears  date  "  June  5,  1832,  aged  1 1  years  and  6  months." 
A  certificate  dated  July  4,  1832,  signed  ''  V.  R.  Osbom,  princi- 
pal," and  "  E.  G.  Welles,  professor  of  rhetoric  and  history,"  at- 
tests that  the  "  honorable  board  "  gave  me  preference  at  the 
second  trial  also. 

During  the  following  fall  my  time  was  occupied  with  my 
studies  and  writing.  I  was  quite  a  hard  student.  I  would 
generally  be  up  with  my  father  before  daybreak,  closely  applied 
to  my  books.  My  parents  indeed  seemed  to  fear  that  this 
intense  application  was  injuring  my  health.  The  first  item 
which  I  have  journalized  was  my  first  speech  delivered  at  a 
little  Sunday-school  two  or  three  miles  from  the  city,  at  a  place 
called  Hart's  factory.  This  was  the  commencement  of  my 
career  in  original  speaking,  and  was  of  course  very  simple,  even 
with  the  assistance  of  my  father's  experience. 

I  have  the  memorandum  of  a  little  incident  which  I  will 
record,  although  not  of  any  peculiar  interest  but  by  the  asso. 


BOY  LIFE  IN  BALTIMORE 


33 


ciation  it  calls  up.  It  is  my  father's  preaching  in  one  of  the 
graveyards  of  the  city  on  the  Sabbath  evening  of  May  5,  1833. 
I  remember  the  beautiful  afternoon,  the  solemn  service,  the 
affected  assembly.  In  that  graveyard  was  a  beautiful  spot 
where  had  been  interred  an  infant,  and  I  have  often  gazed  on 
its  fresh  grass  and  secluded  situation  and  wished  that  I  might 
be  permitted  to  lie  there.  Melancholy  was  one  of  my  first 
companions. 

On  the  nth  of  the  following  June  I  delivered  an  address 
at  Elk  Ridge,  Md.,  on  the  subject  of  "Temperance";  on  the 
14th  of  the  following  July  I  spoke  at  Whatcoat  Chapel  on 
"  The  Advantages  of  Sunday-schools  " ;  and  on  the  28th  of 
the  same  month  I  delivered  an  address  before  the  Juvenile 
Temperance  Society,  in  Wesley  Chapel.  (Memorandum.— 
Father  presented  me  with  the  watch  which  I  have  at  present, 
August  7,  1833.) 

About  this  time  I  heard  the  Rev.  John  N.  Maffit  preach  for 
the  first  time.  Eloquence  has  ever  thrilled  me  with  most 
peculiar  feelings,  and  for  nights  I  listened  with  rapt  attention 
to  his  discourses.  I  find  passages  in  my  journal,  and  particu- 
larly anecdotes,  which  he  was  so  peculiarly  felicitious  in  re- 
lating, which  were  wTitten  before  the  excitement  his  sermons 
produced  had  entirely  subsided.  There  is  a  witchery  and 
eloquence  for  which  I  am  not  able  to  account,  and  yet  he 
holds  his  congregations  almost  perfectly  entranced. 

In  September  of  1833  my  father  and  I  made  a  temperance 
excursion  to  Elkton,  Md.  I  notice  this  incident  as  marking 
a  happy  period  of  my  life.  I  was  here  called  before  the  public 
on  several  occasions,  and  formed  during  my  visit  a  Juvenile 
Temperance  Society.  (My  whole  soul  was  devoted  to  the 
temperance  cause  about  that  time,  and  it  is  even  now  a  cause 
in  which  my  affections  are  enlisted.  I  ever  after  looked  upon 
this  society  with  the  eyes  of  peculiar  regard.  What  has  since 
been  its  fate  I  am  unable  to  tell.) 


34 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


In  October,  1833,  the  missionaries  Wright  and  Spaulding 
left  America  for  Liberia  in  Africa.  During  their  stay  in  Bal- 
timore I  became  acquainted  with  them,  and  became  peculiarly 
attached  to  the  first-named  gentleman.  Indeed,  when  I  en- 
tered the  parlor,  where  I  had  an  introduction  to  him,  he  singled 
me  from  a  large  company  which  had  come  to  pay  their  respects 
to  these  devoted  men,  and  taking  me  in  his  lap,  he  held  me  to 
his  bosom  as  a  near  relative.  He  gave  me  his  address  on 
paper,  which  sacred  relic  I  still  preserve,  and  insisted  on  our 
corresponding.  On  board  the  steamboat,  when  it  was  about 
to  leave  the  city  to  carry  them  to  the  vessel,  he  took  me  in  his 
arms  and  wept  over  me  as  over  a  beloved  brother ;  indeed,  so 
greatly  were  we  moved  that  a  gentleman  standing  near  inquired 
of  my  father  if  we  were  not  brothers.  Alas,  the  eloquent,  the 
zealous,  the  devoted  Wright  sleeps  beside  his  beautiful  wife  in 
the  hot  soil  of  Africa!  I  pray  Heaven  that  if  it  is  consistent 
with  divine  providence  I  may  be  permitted  to  stand  by  the 
grave  of  my  beloved  and  lamented  Wright,  and  preach  "  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  Christ." 

About  this  period  my  father  gave  up  his  business  by  selling 

off  his  stock  in  trade  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  .  My 

father's  being  kept  out  of  his  just  dues  at  this  time  has  been 
probably  the  whole  cause  of  my  passing  through  college  with 
such  contracted  means,  and  the  many  heartburnings  and 
miseries  which  poverty  will  ever  bring  upon  a  student.  Oh, 
if  there  is  a  situation  truly  to  be  deplored,  it  is  that  of  an 
enthusiastic  youth  burning  with  desire  for  knowledge  and  yet 
under  the  galling  restraint  of  a  limited  supply  of  means!  From 
my  first  recollections  I  can  recall  the  remembrance  of  the  in- 
tense interest  which  I  took  in  my  father's  business,  and  the 
great  pain  which  the  perplexity  of  his  concerns  caused  me. 
A  slight  incident  will  illustrate  them :  I  was  once  returning 
from  the  dentist's  with  my  mother,  weeping  bitterly  for  the 
pain  caused  by  the  extraction  of  two  teeth.    To  soothe  me  as 


BOY  LIFE  IN  BALTIMORE 


35 


much  as  possible  she  proposed  to  stop  in  a  book-store  where 
my  father  had  an  account  and  purchase  me  a  toy  book.  I 
would  not  consent  to  this,  for  I  remembered  that  I  had  heard 
my  father  sigh  on  the  previous  evening  when  making  a  calcu- 
lation of  the  amount  of  his  notes  which  would  be  due  that  week. 
As  young  as  I  was,  I  would  not  permit  mother  to  add  the  small- 
est amount  to  the  weight  which  rested  already  upon  my  father. 

In  October  of  this  year  I  again  visited  Elkton  to  stir  up  my 
little  temperance  society  and  to  cultivate  the  friendship  which 
I  had  formed  for  several  families  in  that  place.  Toward  the 
close  of  1833  I  commenced  to  correspond  with  the  "Temper- 
ance Herald,"  a  publication  of  some  interest  when  first  started, 
but  which  has  now  dwindled  into  an  insignificant  sheet.  This 
was  my  first  appearance  in  public  print.  The  articles  arrested 
the  attention  of  the  editor  of  the  "  Mechanic's  Banner,"  a 
literary  paper,  who  requested  me  to  let  him  have  some  few 
articles.  I  wrote  for  him  a  series  of  little  papers  under  the 
title  of  the  "  Pretended  Beggar,"  and,  indeed,  gave  him  occa- 
sional articles  until  he  left  the  city. 

Sabbath,  February  9,  1834, 1  delivered  a  speech  at  Reisters- 
town,  Md.,  on  the  subject  of  Sabbath-schools. 

In  May  of  this  year  the  first  pieces  of  poetry  I  ever  pub- 
lished made  their  appearance  in  the  "  Mechanic's  Banner." 
Previously  to  this  my  reading  in  poetry  had  not  extended 
beyond  the  hymn-book  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  a  few  stray  pieces  of  newspaper  rhyme. 

About  this  time  I  find  in  my  journal  that  I  became  very 
much  attached  to  Virgil's  ^neid,  and  to  this  day  I  prefer  it 
to  all  the  classics  with  which  I  have  become  acquainted.  His 
Bucolics  are  also  favorites  of  mine.  Never  having  read  his 
Georgics,  I  cannot  tell  how  I  should  be  pleased  with  them ; 
not  much,  however,  I  presume,  and  the  agricultural  terms 
cannot  well  be  appreciated.  I  have  read  some  books  of  the 
.^neid  over  several  times. 


36 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


The  first  volume  of  poetry  I  remember  to  have  read  was 
Moore's  "  Lalla  Rookh,"  in  my  freshman  year.* 

The  year  1834  was  an  eventful  year  for  me.  Its  earliest 
days  looked  in  upon  the  room  in  which  my  mother  was  fight- 
ing a  long  battle  with  death.  There  has  never  been  a  day 
since  in  which  I  could  not  call  up  most  vividly  the  circum- 
stances attending  the  last  hour.  We  had  been  a  small  family 
from  my  first  recollection,  just  four  of  us :  father  and  mother, 
her  half-sister, — whom  1  always  called  "Aunt  Juliet," — and 
myself.  My  training  had  devolved  upon  my  mother  and  my 
aunt.  I  have  always  felt  the  evil  of  being  an  only  child.  I 
am  frequently  humiliated  by  a  sudden  sense  of  a  selfishness 
which  would  have  been  corrected  if  I  had  been  reared  with 
brothers  and  sisters  younger  or  older  than  myself.  And  then 
I  also  suffered  from  that  other  trouble  which  besets  an  only 
child,  the  trouble  of  being  exceedingly  much  raised ;  the  hav- 
ing two  women  with  scarcely  anything  else  to  do  but  to  devote 
themselves  to  this  one  individual  boy.  The  being  the  only 
son  of  two  mothers,  one  an  invalid  and  the  other  an  old  maid, 
was  a  most  trying  position. 

My  mother  was  a  woman  of  strong  character;  she  ruled 
wherever  she  went,  and  had  unusual  natural  abilities,  with  the 
very  slight  school  culture  of  that  day.  She  was  a  woman  of 
prodigious  faith  and  great  gifts  in  prayer.  I  have  heard  her 
pray  till  strong  men  bowed  their  faces  to  the  very  carpet  on 
the  floor.  The  remembrance  of  her  prayers  is  such  that  I  can 
never  speak  of  them  without  feeling  that  tingling  in  my  blood 
which  one  feels  while  hearing  thrilling  eloquence ;  and  it  has 
been  fifty-two  years  since  that  voice  was  stilled.  Her  inva- 
lidism extended  over  a  long  period  ;  indeed,  I  am  told  that  she 
never  was  well  after  the  hour  of  my  birth.  Her  disease  caused 
so  much  pain  that  the  physicians  administered  great  quantities 
of  laudanum.  It  became  so  costly  that  when  I  was  eleven 
*  End  of  extracts  from  recollections,  dated  May  10,  1839. 


BOY  LIFE  IN  BALTIMORE 


37 


years  of  age  I  was  taught  how  to  make  the  laudanum,  and 
would  buy  the  spirits  and  the  opium  in  quantities.  I  recall 
now  the  very  appearance  of  the  knife  with  which  I  was  accus- 
tomed to  cut  the  opium  into  small  pieces  before  putting  it  into 
the  bottle  of  spirits.  I  do  not  believe  that  I  have  tasted  opium 
for  half  a  century ;  but  some  of  it  would  stick  to  my  fingers, 
and  I  frequently  took  it  off  with  my  teeth.  I  look  back  to 
that  experience  with  wonder  that  I  totally  escaped  addiction 
to  either  alcohol  or  opium.  The  effect  of  this  drug  upon  my 
dear  sick  mother  was  necessarily  to  obscure  her  fine  intellect 
and  strong  natural  spirits,  so  that  very  frequently  she  was 
under  a  cloud,  very  frequently  irritable,  very  frequently  feeling 
as  if  her  trust  in  God  were  gone,  and  she  could  read  no  portion 
of  her  title  to  a  mansion  in  the  skies.  Then  at  other  times  her 
pain  was  frightful.  I  have  had  my  hand  crushed  in  hers,  and 
my  arm  held  tightly,  so  tightly  as  to  exhibit  the  marks  of  my 
mother's  fingers.  But  my  devotion  to  her  never  ceased,  and 
it  has  been  a  comfort  to  all  my  after  life  that  the  assurance 
has  never  failed  me  of  my  being  a  comfort  to  her  up  to  the 
last  moment  of  her  mortal  life.  She  who  in  former  years  had 
been  such  a  buoyant,  triumphant  Christian  had,  during  the 
latter  years,  been  in  heaviness  through  temptation  that  at 
the  last  moment  she  should  lack  dying  grace.  But  God  was 
better  to  her  than  all  her  fears.  When  the  last  came  I  was 
not  a  Christian,  and  this  was  a  real  sorrow  to  her;  but  she 
died  believing  that  her  only  son  would  live  to  be  a  useful 
Christian  man,  and  expressed  that  belief  in  the  most  decided 
tones.  She  had  always  been  fond  of  Pope's  poetry,  and  her 
last  intelligible  articulations  were  made  in  striving  to  repeat 
Pope's  version  of  the  Roman  emperor's  little  poem.  She 
spoke  it  gaspingly: 

"  Vital  spark  of  heavenly  flame, 
Quit,  oh,  quit  this  mortal  frame ; 
Trembling,  hoping,  lingering,  flying— 
Oh  the  pain,  the  bliss,  of  dying! 


38 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  Cease,  fond  nature,  cease  thy  strife, 
And  let  me  languish  into  life!  " 

Then  for  some  time  there  was  silence;  she  had  almost  ex- 
ceeded her  strength.  My  recollection  is  that  she  missed  the 
next  verse  in  the  well-known  poem,  but  evidently  her  mind 
was  going  over  the  sentence.  She  began  again,  gasping  at 
each  word : 

"  The  world  recedes,  it  disappears. 
Heaven  —  heaven  —  heaven  —  " 

She  could  not  get  farther,  she  looked  into  our  eyes.  My  aunt 
added  the  next  line : 

"  Opens  on  our  eyes." 

My  mother  smiled,  nodded  her  head,  and  closed  the  eyes  into 
which  we  had  been  gazing,  to  open  the  eyes  of  her  spirit  on 
the  vision  of  God. 

The  year  1834  was  also  remarkable  in  my  history  as  the 
date  of  the  beginning  of  my  church-membership,  the  breaking 
up  of  our  little  family,  and  my  departure  for  college.  I  had 
always  been  a  serious  boy,  and  really  desired  to  be  rehgious. 
The  death  of  my  mother  brought  a  crisis  in  my  experience; 
I  desired  to  live  with  her  forever.  I  had  promised  to  meet 
her  in  heaven.  I  was  not  a  vicious  boy;  very  few  external 
violations  of  the  moral  law  had  marked  my  short  history,  and 
yet  I  felt  that  there  was  need  of  some  act  of  consecration 
which  should  separate  me  from  the  world,  and  that  for  my 
own  spiritual  purification  and  growth  there  was  needed  some- 
thing to  be  received  into  my  heart.  This  led  me  to  listen 
carefully  to  religious  conversations,  to  seek  to  hear  practical 
preaching,  and  to  find  out  what  that  "  change  of  heart "  meant 
of  which  I  heard  the  Methodist  brethren  speak  so  much.  If 
my  mother  had  been  living,  as  she  was  a  few  years  before,  in 
the  fullness  of  her  powers,  and  I  had  opened  my  heart  to  her, 
how  she  might  have  led  me!    As  it  was,  I  remembered  many 


£0Y  LIFE  IN  BALTIMORE 


39 


of  her  teachings,  and  think  that  I  was  very  much  affected  by 
her  spirit,  but  I  did  not  know  how  to  come  out  "  on  the  Lord's 
side." 

My  father  and  my  aunt,  as  I  afterward  learned,  were  deeply 
solicitous  for  my  condition,  and  became  more  anxious  as  I 
became  more  reserved ;  and  I  became  more  reserved  as  my 
religious  exercises  deepened  in  my  soul.  I  have  since  learned 
how  natural  this  is,  and  know  how  to  appreciate  the  delicacy 
of  the  soul  of  a  young  person  who  shrinks  from  talking  about 
that  which  concerns  his  innermost  being  and  which  really  is 
indescribable. 

But  through  the  spring  I  had  fixed  upon  an  approaching 
camp-meeting  which  was  to  be  held  in  the  summer,  about 
fourteen  miles  from  the  city,  on  what  was  called  the  Reisters- 
town  road.  When  the  time  of  preparation  had  arrived  the 
question  of  our  going  came  up  in  oiu"  little  circle,  and  my  father 
observed  that  he  did  not  think  he  would  go ;  he  could  see  no 
good  of  it.  This  startled  me  ;  it  seemed  to  be  taking  away  my 
day  of  grace.  I  made  a  quick  expression  of  desire  that  we 
should  go,  and  he  said  to  me,  "  Son,  you  have  had  so  many 
religious  opportunities  that  I  am  afraid  to  go  to  camp-meeting 
with  you,  for  if  you  pass  through  those  exercises  unconverted, 
you  will  come  out  harder  than  you  are  now."  I  said,  "  O 
father,  do  go!"  and  I  suppose  there  must  have  been  more  in 
the  expression  of  my  face  than  in  my  words,  as  I  learned  the 
next  day  that  we  were  to  attend  camp-meeting,  and  afterward 
learned  from  my  father  that  he  saw  in  my  countenance  that 
something  unusual  was  passing  in  my  mind. 

The  camp-meeting  of  that  day  was  very  different  from  things 
that  bear  that  name  in  this.  There  were  no  two-  and  three- 
story  cottages  with  bay-windows  and  balconies,  with  carpeted 
floors,  pictured  walls,  and  swinging  cages  of  birds.  Every  tent 
was  really  a  tent— canvas  put  up  on  poles.  Before  the  en- 
campment there  were  no  signs  of  it,  and,  but  for  the  fires  and 


40 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


the  clearings  for  the  "  stand,"  as  it  was  called,  and  the  arbor, 
there  were  no  signs  after  the  encampment  departed.  Two  or 
three  city  churches  would  unite,  and  their  officers  would  take 
charge  of  the  whole  affair.  Companies  went  out  on  wagons, 
with  their  tents,  their  bedding,  and  their  cooking  utensils. 

On  one  such  occasion  we  started  up  the  turnpike.  We 
passed  quite  near  the  place  where  my  father  was  reared.  That 
neighborhood  had  its  ghost-stories,  as  every  neighborhood  has. 
My  father  had  told  me  several,  to  all  of  which  there  was  a 
rational  explanation.  But  there  was  one  which  none  of  us 
could  ever  explain ;  it  was  as  follows : 

Within  a  few  rods  of  the  turnpike  a  gentleman  had,  in  the 
days  of  my  father's  boyhood,  undertaken  to  build  a  dweUing. 
Before  it  was  finished,  the  inner  walls,  however,  being  plastered, 
my  father  and  some  other  urchins  saw  a  light  in  the  house  one 
night,  and  went  to  its  open  door,  where  they  beheld  an  old 
hag,  who  was  considered  a  sort  of  witch  in  the  neighborhood, 
sitting  and  warming  herself  beside  a  very  large  fire  made  of 
shavings,  blocks,  and  other  light  pieces  of  wood.  The  flame 
roared  up  the  chimney,  and  the  old  crone  was  holding  her 
hands  toward  its  genial  warmth.  When  the  boys  came  near 
the  door  and  saluted  her  she  rose  with  a  stick  to  drive  them 
off.  Her  rising  was  enough,  for  they  fled  with  terror.  Next 
morning,  when  the  sun  was  shining  and  the  workmen  had  re- 
turned, the  boys  came  back  and  examined  the  fireplace.  It 
was  absolutely  clean,  the  bricks  and  the  mortar  which  joined 
them  being  fresh  and  free  from  any  mark  of  fire.  This  was  a 
great  puzzle  to  the  boys,  and  no  explanation  of  it  ever  was 
reached,  but  the  house  was  always  uninhabitable.  A  number 
of  families  had  tried  to  live  in  it  and  had  failed ;  after  a  night 
or  two  they  were  flung  from  their  beds.  The  owner  had  never 
been  able  to  occupy  it  himself  nor  to  keep  a  tenant,  and,  after 
a  few  efforts,  the  house  came  to  have  such  a  bad  fame  that  it 
could  neither  be  sold  nor  given  away.  All  this  I  had  heard 
years  before. 


BOY  LIFE  IN  BALTIMORE 


41 


We  were  approaching  tlie  house  in  the  gloaming,  and  I 
determined  to  try  the  strength  of  my  nerves;  so  I  jumped 
from  the  wagon,  let  it  pass  the  house  a  little  distance,  and 
then  entered.  It  was  an  old-looking  house  now,  for  the 
weather  had  beaten  through  it.  There  was  light  enough  to 
see.  I  boldly  walked  to  the  middle  of  the  room,  out  of  which 
stairs  ascended  to  the  second  story.  At  the  turn  of  the  stairs 
I  laid  my  hand  upon  the  open  floor  above,  and  thought  I 
would  simply  draw  myself  up  and  look  in.  All  at  once  all  the 
ghost-stories  that  I  had  ever  heard  in  my  life  rushed  upon  my 
mind.  I  heard  the  dying  sounds  of  the  retreating  wheels  as 
they  passed  away.  It  flashed  upon  me  that  some  mischievous 
or  wicked  persons  might  use  the  bad  fame  of  the  house  to 
carry  out  their  improper  designs  upon  travelers,  and  that  so 
unnerved  me  that  I  dropped  to  the  floor  and  ran  after  the 
wagon. 

I  have  never  had  any  belief  in  ghosts,  and  have  always  gone 
into  weird  places,  sometimes  visiting  graveyards  at  midnight  just 
to  see  if  I  could  do  it.  And  yet  I  do  believe  from  that  early 
experience  and  subsequent  experiments,  whatever  may  be  the 
state  of  a  man's  logical  understanding  toward  the  whole  sub- 
ject of  ghosts,  in  the  bravest  of  boys  and  of  men  there  is 
something  in  what  they  have  heard  which  so  affects  the  ima- 
gination as  in  some  measure  to  unnerve  them. 

The  camp-meeting  was  held  on  what  the  Baltimore  Meth- 
odists of  that  day  were  accustomed  to  call  "  Clark's  Old 
Ground."  In  the  personal  recollections  (1839)  already  re- 
ferred to,  I  find  the  following  record  of  my  experience : 

On  the  bright  and  beautiful  morning  of  August  i8th — can 
I  ever  forget  the  scene?— I  accompanied  a  young  friend  to  an 
adjoining  hill.  I  there  erected  an  altar  of  stone,  and,  bowing 
down,  I  resolved  never  to  rise  until  God  should  speak  peace 
to  my  soul.  My  cries  for  mercy  drew  several  persons  to  the 
spot.  I  wrestled  for  a  long  time.  I  had  laid  down  a  partic- 
ular plan  in  which  I  wished  to  receive  the  blessing,  but  when 


42 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


I  gave  myself  up  entirely  to  God,  then  he  listened  to  my 
prayer,  and  answered  it  to  the  joy  and  comfort  of  my  soul. 
It  did  not  come,  as  I  had  supposed,  like  the  rushing  of  a 
mighty  wind,  but  it  was  a  still,  small  voice,  whispering,  "  Peace." 
I  knew  not  how  long  I  was  on  my  knees,  but  was  so  earnestly 
engaged  as  not  to  know  that  I  was  surrounded  by  strangers. 
When  I  arose  the  fields  seemed  greener,  the  air  sweeter,  and 
the  heaven  itself  brighter,  and  my  soul  was  filled  with  love. 


CHAPTER  III 


COLLEGE  LIFE  AT  CARLISLE,  1834-39 

MY  mother's  death  had  made  a  great  break  in  our  circle. 
My  father  had  been  a  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  would  have  entered  what  is  called  the 
itinerancy  but  for  my  mother's  health.  When  she  was  gone 
I  was  still  left  with  my  aunt,  the  half-sister  who  had  reared 
me,  and  who  was  devoted  to  me  then  as  she  is  now  (1886), 
and  who  could  not  be  separated  from  me.  For  months  my 
father  was  in  doubt  as  to  what  course  to  pursue.  I  was  not 
quite  ready  for  college.  His  losses  in  business  and  the  ex- 
penses of  my  mother's  sickness  necessitated  the  consideration 
of  economy.  It  was  just  at  this  juncture  that  Dickinson 
College,  in  Carhsle,  Pa.,  passed  over  from  the  hands  of  the 
Presbyterians  to  the  hands  of  the  church  in  which  my  father 
was  a  minister.  The  Methodists  reorganized  the  college  with 
great  vigor.  At  that  time  there  was  in  the  city  of  Baltimore 
a  man  of  extraordinary  physical  and  intellectual  endowments, 
the  Rev.  Stephen  George  Roszell,  who  had  great  influence 
over  my  father.  He  came  to  see  us.  He  insisted  upon  my 
going  to  Dickinson  College,  and  met  the  difficulty  of  my  lack 
of  preparation  by  the  statement  that  a  most  excellent  prepara- 
tory school  was  to  be  organized  in  connection  with  that  college. 
He  increased  the  inducements  by  offering  to  take  my  father 
and  myself  to  Carlisle  in  his  own  carriage. 

43 


44 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


It  was  determined  that  we  should  go  to  the  college  to  hear 
the  new  president's  inaugural.  To  me  the  ride  was  one  of 
very  great  interest.  Before  the  existence  of  railroads  one  saw 
the  country  so  much  better  in  carriages  and  on  foot.  This 
time  we  rode ;  but  in  one  of  my  college  vacations  afterward, 
when  I  wanted  to  revisit  my  native  city,  my  funds  were  so  low 
that  I  walked  the  distance  to  within  twelve  miles  of  Baltimore, 
out  to  which  point  a  railway  had  been  made.  So  from  Balti- 
more, on  that  old  Reisterstown  road,  up  to  Carlisle  in  the 
beautiful  Cumberland  Valley,  I  once  knew  the  whole  road. 

In  the  summer  of  1834  my  father  took  me  to  Carlisle  and 
entered  me  in  the  preparatory  school  of  Dickinson  College. 
This  institution,  as  I  have  already  stated,  had  just  passed  from 
the  hands  of  the  Presbyterians  into  the  control  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church.  It  was  intended  to  do  for  the  Methodists  of  the 
Middle  States  what  Wesleyan  University  was  accomplishing 
for  New  England.  The  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  confer- 
ences of  the  Methodist  Church  had  it  especially  in  charge, 
and  they  entered  upon  the  work  of  rehabilitation  with  great 
zeal  and  managed  it  with  marked  ability.  Perhaps  no  college 
in  America  ever  started  with  a  more  able  faculty.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Price  Durbin,  who  had  had  experience  in  the  colleges 
of  Kentucky,  was  called  to  the  presidency.  He  was  an  ex- 
traordinary man  in  many  particulars.  As  a  pulpit  orator  he 
had  attracted  the  attention  of  the  nation  while  traveling  for 
the  other  colleges  with  which  he  had  been  connected.  In 
person  he  was  slight.  His  face  was  not  handsome,  neverthe- 
less it  was  peculiarly  attractive.  The  life  of  it  was  in  an  eye 
of  remarkable  expression.  When  calm  it  was  sweetly  benevo- 
lent, but  when  excited  it  seemed  really  to  flash.  His  sermons 
very  frequently  dwelt  on  speculative  themes.  In  the  beginning 
of  their  delivery  there  was  such  a  drawl  that  when  he  went  to 
strange  places  persons  who  knew  nothing  of  the  fame  of  the 
preacher  would  frequently  leave  the  church  in  disgust  while 


COLLEGE  LIFE  AT  CARLISLE 


45 


he  was  reading  the  morning  lessons  or  the  hymns  or  making 
the  opening  prayer.  He  would  drag  on  sometimes  for  fifteen 
or  twenty  minutes,  making  preliminary  statements,  searching 
the  mind  for  some  startling  thought.  The  expression  of  his 
countenance  in  the  beginning  was  that  of  a  man  intently  in- 
terested in  what  he  had  in  hand,  as  if  preparing  to  do  some- 
thing startling  with  it.  Suddenly,  without  premonition,  lifting 
himself  to  his  height,  he  would  flash  the  climacteric  sentence 
on  his  audience.  A  shock  from  an  electric  battery  could  not 
have  produced  more  marked  effect.  Sometimes  the  whole 
audience  would  be  startled  into  a  movement  forward. 

I  remember  that  in  one  of  his  sermons  he  administered  such 
a  shock  that,  sitting  in  the  gallery  of  the  church,  I  was  com- 
pelled to  run  into  the  street  to  avoid  outright  screaming. 
After  my  graduation,  when  he  had  quit  the  college,  I  went  to 
his  church  in  Philadelphia  on  one  of  the  hottest  days  of  sum- 
mer—and no  place  on  earth  that  I  have  ever  visited  can 
become  hotter  than  Philadelphia.  The  house  was  packed. 
Nearly  every  one  slept,  except  while  standing  to  sing,  and 
many  of  the  congregation  were  too  much  overcome  to  do  that. 
It  was  one  of  those  dull,  hot  days  when  it  seems  impossible 
to  keep  awake.  It  was  one  of  the  four  times  in  my  life  in 
which  I  had  slept  during  divine  service.  Even  under  those 
circumstances,  several  times  during  the  discourse  Dr.  Durbin 
roused  his  audience  by  the  peculiar  intonations  of  his  voice 
and  administered  that  peculiar  thrill.  I  could  see  the  audience 
in  the  thrill,  and  then,  when  it  was  over,  relapse  into  slumber. 

Dr.  Durbin  not  only  was  very  attractive  in  the  pulpit,  but 
he  had  excellent  governing  powers.  He  won  the  respect  of 
the  students,  administered  discipline  wisely  and  well,  and  kept 
the  conditions  between  the  faculty  and  the  body  of  students 
comfortable.  He  had  four  remarkable  men  associated  with 
him. 

On  our  way  from  Baltimore  to  Carlisle  we  stopped  to  pay 


46 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


our  respects  to  the  Rev.  Bishop  Emory,  who  lived  on  the  road 
about  sixteen  miles  from  Baltimore.  While  my  father  w^as 
conversing  with  him  I  was  sent  outdoors  to  play  with  the 
children,  one  of  whom  was  a  sweet  little  girl,  who  afterward 
grew  to  be  an  admirable  woman  and  died  the  wife  of  my 
friend  and  classmate,  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  R.  Crooks.  When 
it  was  time  for  my  father  to  resume  the  journey,  a  tall  young 
man  of  blond  complexion  and  wearing  glasses  recalled  us  to 
the  house.  It  was  the  bishop's  son,  Robert  Emory,  who  had 
been  called  to  the  chair  of  ancient  languages  in  the  college. 
His  father  had  been  book-agent  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
Robert  had  been  graduated  with  distinction  in  Columbia 
Colkge  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  was  not  a  brilliant 
man,  but  he  had  rare  equipoise  of  mind  and  an  elevated, 
manly  nature,  a  thorough  training,  and  all  the  ways  of  a  gen- 
tleman. He  not  only  discharged  his  duties  as  a  teacher  with 
piety  and  success,  but  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  personal 
intercourse  with  his  students  and  attention  to  their  religious 
condition. 

To  the  chair  of  mathematics  there  had  been  called  a  brilliant 
young  man,  recently  graduated  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, John  McClintock,  afterward  distinguished  by  the 
contributions  he  made  to  religious  literature,  especially  as 
editor-in-chief,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  of  McClintock 
and  Strong's  Encyclopedia. 

The  professor  of  moral  philosophy  was  Merritt  Caldwell,  a 
layman,  who  had  come  from  Bowdoin  College,  in  Maine.  He 
was  a  quiet,  distinguished,  scholarly  man.  To  promote  econ- 
omy among  the  students  each  young  man  was  assigned  to  a 
professor  who  had  charge  of  his  financial  affairs.  Professor 
Caldwell  received  the  amounts  my  father  sent  him  and  acted 
as  my  bursar. 

A  fifth  man  was  in  that  young  faculty,  a  layman,  Professor 
William  H.  Allen,  who  had  charge  of  the  department  of  natu- 


COLLEGE  LIFE  AT  CARLISLE 


47 


ral  science.  His  was  a  rich  mind.  His  lectures  were  peculiarly 
charming,  and  his  store  of  thought  and  illustration  appeared  to 
be  exhaustless.  After  leaving  Dickinson  College  he  became 
president  of  Girard  College  and  of  the  American  Bible  So- 
ciety. 

How  these  five  men  did  work,  and  what  enthusiasm  they 
kindled  among  the  students!  They  were  so  different,  so  in- 
dividual, so  earnest,  making  themselves  so  acquainted  with  the 
peculiarities  of  the  dispositions  and  circumstances  of  all  the 
students,  that  their  influence  now  seems  to  me  wonderful. 
Only  one  is  now  (1887)  living,  Dr.  Allen,  president  of  Girard 
College,  who  has  just  resigned  the  presidency  of  the  American 
Bible  Society  on  account  of  advancing  years. 

In  charge  of  the  preparatory  school  was  a  Mr.  Dobbs.  He 
left  soon  after  I  entered  college,  and  the  last  I  heard  of  him 
he  was  in  the  ministry  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  I 
spent  one  year  in  the  preparatory  school,  and  boarded  in  town 
with  a  family  named  Keeney.  My  father  had  made  arrange- 
ments that  my  aunt.  Miss  Roberts,  should  accompany  me. 
Her  devotion  to  me  was  so  great  that  she  could  not  endure  to 
be  separated  from  me.  Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  I  had  the 
protection  of  this  most  affectionate  and  pious  woman.  She  is 
living  while  I  write  this,  forty-two  years  after  quitting  college, 
and  this  very  morning  I  hear  from  a  near  relative  in  Baltimore 
that  she  is  pining  to  see  her  "  old  boy."  Having  her  oversight 
and  affectionate  caresses  was  a  blessed  thing  for  me. 

I  was  admitted  to  the  freshman  class  in  the  summer  of  1835, 
a  class  which  graduated  seventeen  strong.  Of  that  number 
five  entered  the  ministry,  three  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
two  in  the  Methodist.  Of  the  men  in  my  class  few  have 
become  distinguished. 

Daniel  E.  M.  Bates  died  chancellor  of  the  State  of  Dela- 
ware. He  was  a  gentle,  excellent,  high-minded  boy,  and  be- 
came a  noble  and  useful  man. 


48 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


James  D.  Biddle,  a  relative  of  Nicholas  Biddle,  well  known 
as  the  president  of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States  when  Gen- 
eral Jackson  made  his  famous  movement  on  it,  was  a  very 
agreeable  and  gentlemanly  student. 

William  F.  Roe  was  an  excellent  scholar,  and  afterward 
became  professor  in  Shelby  College,  in  Kentucky. 

Lemuel  Todd  was  in  after  years  a  general  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States  during  the  Civil  War,  and  afterward  repre- 
sented his  district  in  Congress. 

In  the  class  next  after  ours  was  Spencer  Fullerton  Baird, 
who  afterward  became  distinguished  for  his  scientific  attain- 
ments and  for  the  position  which  he  held  at  the  head  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institution.  While  in  college  he  showed  his  great 
fondness  for  studies  in  natural  history,  spending  much  of  his 
time  in  the  fields  and  streams  around  Carlisle,  noting  the 
habits  of  animals. 

George  R.  Crooks  was  a  member  of  our  class,  but  by  reason 
of  ill  health  fell  back  and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1840. 
He  was  a  laborious  student.  His  thickness  of  hearing  was 
very  much  in  his  way.  I  recollect  distinctly  how,  when  he 
recited  in  the  ancient  languages,  he  was  accustomed  to  go  and 
stand  beside  the  professor  while  making  his  translation.  He 
afterward  became  quite  distinguished  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  was  a  professor  in  Dickinson  College,  and  assisted 
Dr.  McClintock  in  his  great  cyclopedia.  For  years  he  was 
the  editor  of  the  "  Methodist,"  published  in  New  York,  and 
subsequently  professor  in  Drew  Theological  Seminary. 

George  David  Cummins  entered  the  freshman  class  when 
ours  became  junior.  He  became  the  well-known  founder  of 
the  Reformed  Episcopal  Church. 

My  first  room  was  in  the  old  building,  a  long  room  over  the 
chapel.  At  that  time  interest  in  the  two  literary  societies  was 
very  intense,  the  members  of  the  Belles-Lettres  and  the  Union 
Philosophical  societies  severally  exerting  themselves  to  secure 


COLLEGE  LIEE  AT  CARLISLE 


49 


members.  I  joined  the  latter  and  took  very  great  interest  in 
all  its  affairs  to  the  close  of  my  career. 

My  habits  of  study  were  ruinous.  No  one  then  seemed  to 
have  any  care  for  the  health  of  students.  A  man  or  boy,  as 
the  case  might  be,  was  allowed  to  go  forward  without  warning 
in  regard  to  his  health.  Frequently  I  studied  until  twelve 
o'clock  at  night  and  rose  next  morning  at  four.  No  boy,  at 
my  time  of  hfe,  should  have  been  allowed  to  do  such  a  thing 
as  that.  Afterward  I  modified  it,  studying  until  eleven,  then 
walking  up  and  down  the  campus,  my  mind  occupied  in  mus- 
ings, in  brown  studies,  or  in  excited  thoughts  about  the  future. 
In  my  freshman  year  I  know  there  were  periods  in  which  I 
went  from  Sunday  night  when  I  returned  from  church,  until 
Sunday  morning  when  I  went  to  church,  without  going  out  of 
college.    Of  course  such  things  told  on  my  health. 

The  pulpit  in  Carhsle  was  an  educational  influence.  The 
two  Methodist  preachers  who  were  stationed  in  the  town 
during  my  term  were  the  Rev.  George  G.  Cookman  and  the 
Rev.  Thomas  A.  Thornton.  Both  these  gentlemen  had  been 
stationed  in  Baltimore  and  were  friends  of  my  father.  Under 
the  former  I  had  become  a  member  of  the  church  before 
going  to  college.  His  name  is  one  that  is  likely  to  live  in  the 
annals  of  Methodism.  An  Englishman  by  birth,  he  had  not 
been  in  this  country  many  months  before  he  made  a  national 
reputation  by  a  most  extraordinary  speech  before  the  American 
Bible  Society.  From  that  day  to  the  day  of  his  death  he  drew 
crowds.  He  was  a  slender  man,  trim,  well  made,  about  the 
medium  height,  very  alert  in  his  actions,  with  a  ringing  voice 
and  a  gray  eye  full  of  life.  He  afterward  became  chaplain 
of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  He  started  on  a  return 
voyage  to  his  native  land  in  the  unfortunate  "  President," 
which  has  never  been  heard  from  since  her  departure  from  the 
American  port.  His  sermons  were  neither  profound  nor  pol- 
ished, but  they  were  full  of  life,  and  very  vivifying  to  the  hearer. 


50 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Dr.  Thornton  was  a  Virginian,  a  gentleman  of  pleasing 
manners,  an  interesting  though  not  a  great  nor  stirring 
preacher.  Young  Professor  McClintock  came  to  the  college 
a  preacher,  and  the  young  Professor  Emory  was  hcensed  to 
preach  while  I  was  still  in  college.  Outside  the  Methodist 
Church  the  other  pulpits  were  ably  manned.  The  Episcopal 
clergyman,  who  boarded  in  the  house  next  to  the  one  in  which 
I  spent  a  whole  year  of  my  college  life,  was  a  preacher  of 
very  considerable  intellect  and  much  culture,  and  had  a  rich 
rhetorical  style.  He  was  very  social  and  markedly  convivial. 
A  very  different  man  was  Dr.  McGill,  in  the  Seceder  Presby- 
terian Church,  who  now  (1887)  in  his  old  age  is  a  professor  at 
Princeton.  He  was  tall,  angular,  and  highly  intellectual.  His 
matter  was  beaten  oil  before  it  was  brought  into  the  sanctuary. 
It  was  an  intellectual  treat  to  hear  him  preach. 

In  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Duffield, 
who  in  after  years  labored  and  died  in  Detroit.  His  congre- 
gation embraced  many  of  the  elite  of  the  town,  and  he  himself 
was  a  gentleman  as  well  as  a  scholar,  and  his  scholarship,  al- 
though high,  did  not  dry  up  his  powers  of  preaching.  His 
wife  was  a  New  Yorker  connected  with  the  Bethunes  and  the 
Grahams.  His  sons  became  my  intimate  friends,  and  I  was 
especially  attached,  and  am  to  this  day,  to  Divie  Bethune 
Duffield,  who  is  practising  law  in  Detroit.  The  Duffields  were 
most  kind  to  me,  and  I  frequently  spent  my  Saturdays  at  their 
beautiful  home  on  the  edge  of  the  town  of  Carlisle.  I  believe 
that  the  influence  of  that  family  upon  my  Christian  character 
was  very  marked  and  very  useful. 

With  such  preachers  as  these  to  fill  up  our  Sunday  hours 
and  cultivate  the  spiritual  side  of  our  characters,  we  who  were 
then  students  at  Dickinson  College  had  very  great  privileges. 

Twice  while  I  was  an  undergraduate  I  seemed  to  be  near 
the  end  of  my  life.  Many  of  us  were  accustomed  on  Satur- 
day afternoon  to  go  to  the  Canadaquonet  Creek  for  bathing. 


COLLEGE  LIFE  AT  CARLISLE 


51 


It  gave  us  a  walk  of  two  or  three  miles,  besides  the  pleasure 
of  the  bath.  Here  one  Saturday  I  had  the  experience  of 
drowning.  I  had  been  in  the  creek  some  time  and  was  prob- 
ably weakened.  One  of  the  older  collegians,  coming  down 
to  plunge  in,  proposed  to  me  to  swim  across.  I  consented 
if  he  would  hold  one  of  my  hands  and  let  us  strike  out  to- 
gether. He  caught  my  hand  and  we  started.  He  thought  that 
I  was  just  pretending  that  I  needed  the  help  of  his  hand,  sup- 
posing me  to  be  a  very  good  swimmer.  In  the  middle  of  the 
creek  he  loosened  his  hold,  shot  under  my  breast,  and  threw 
me  back  in  the  water.  I  could  not  recover  myself  sufficiently 
to  know  which  shore  was  the  nearer.  In  my  confusion  I  be- 
came alarmed,  my  alarm  took  away  what  httle  strength  I  still 
had,  and  I  began  to  sink.  A  student  on  the  bank  saw  my 
condition,  and  called  out ;  that  student's  name  was  Francis 
A.  Baggs.  He  afterward  became  a  Methodist  clergyman  in 
Virginia.  A  young  man  from  Newark,  N.  J.,  a  powerful 
fellow,  who  had  been  to  sea,  took  in  the  state  of  affairs, 
plunged  into  the  stream,  caught  me  by  my  arm  and  leg,  and 
flung  me  into  shoal  water,  and  then,  with  the  assistance  of 
other  students,  flung  me  out.  I  had  gone  through  the  horror 
of  the  struggle  and  had  come  into  a  condition  of  perfect  peace 
and  perfect  comfort,  the  kind  of  comfort  a  tired  boy  feels  on 
a  warm  spring  day  when  he  comes  from  a  race  and  lies  down 
to  sleep— the  feeling  that  precedes  the  loss  of  consciousness. 
At  that  moment,  too,  I  seemed  to  remember  every  event  of 
my  outward  life,  every  thought  of  my  mind,  every  emotion  of 
my  heart ;  my  whole  hfe,  in  separate,  condensed  panorama, 
rose  up  before  my  view.  I  had  never  read  anything  in  mental 
philosophy,  and  this  seemed  very  strange  to  me,  but  very  awful. 

Subsequently  I  found  that  it  is  common  experience.  To  this 
day  I  never  refer  to  it  without  a  feehng  of  solemnity.  It 
seems  so  strange  that  my  mind  could  see  at  once  ten  thousand 
things  that  had  come  into  a  life  of  fourteen  years.  Apparently 


62 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


it  was  at  once,  although  they  must  have  come  up  into  the  mem- 
ory successively,  but  with  such  rapidity  as  to  appear  to  be  seen 
all  synchronously.  This  event  sobered  me,  and,  I  think,  gave 
a  tinge  to  my  feelings  through  my  whole  college  career. 

My  rank  in  scholarship  was  never  very  high  in  college ;  I 
sought  no  prizes.  As  I  intended  to  study  and  practise  law,  I 
took  from  the  curriculum  only  what  I  supposed  would  be 
helpful  to  me  in  future  law  studies.  I  devoted  myself  mainly 
to  belles-lettres,  to  compositions,  and  to  preparation  for  de- 
bates. I  did  not  put  a  proper  estimate  upon  the  training 
which  was  given  by  the  regular  college  course.  This  error  I 
perceived  later  in  life.  Now  I  believe  that  in  the  undergrad- 
uate course  a  man  should  give  himself  up  wholly  to  Latin, 
Greek,  and  mathematics ;  and,  if  I  had  the  shaping  of  all  our 
college  work,  I  would  exclude  every  study  except  those  three. 
No  boy  should  enter  college  until  he  had  a  thorough  prepara- 
tion for  the  higher  study  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  tongues  and 
the  masterpieces  in  those  languages.  I  should  put  other  studies 
afterward,  in  a  postgraduate  or  university  course,  beginning 
with  the  English  language  and  literature.  I  should  never  put 
an  English  grammar  in  the  hands  of  a  boy  until  he  had  pretty 
well  mastered  the  Latin  and  Greek  grammars.  The  university 
or  postgraduate  course  I  should  have  to  include  studies  in 
law,  medicine,  and  the  Bible. 

Of  course  preparatory  to  law  would  be  the  English  language 
and  literature,  rhetoric,  and  dialectics ;  and  connected  with 
medicine  would  be  all  the  departments  of  physical  science.  A 
boy  at  fifteen  should  be  thoroughly  prepared  to  enter  the 
college ;  three  years  should  then  be  devoted  to  the  college 
course,  two  years  to  the  postgraduate  preparatory  course  for 
one  of  the  professions ;  then  two  years  in  a  legal,  medical,  or 
biblical  school  would  complete  the  theoretical  education  of 
the  young  man  and  prepare  him  to  enter  the  practical  school 
of  the  profession  of  law,  medicine,  or  the  ministry. 


COLLEGE  LIFE  AT  CARLISLE 


53 


But  the  college  course  of  the  classical  languages  and  mathe- 
matics gives  the  mental  discipline  needed  by  every  man  who 
is  to  take  high  rank  as  agriculturist,  mechanic,  or  manufac- 
turer ;  for  this  discipline  is  needed  by  such  men  as  much  as  it 
is  needed  by  those  men  who  intend  to  pursue  one  of  the 
learned  professions.  It  should  not  have  anything  in  it  op- 
tional, and  no  man  should  be  admitted  into  one  of  the  learned 
professions  who  had  not  taken  his  degree  out  of  some  well- 
established  college  giving  thorough  training  in  Latin,  Greek, 
and  mathematics.  But  I  had  no  friend  to  give  me  advice,  and 
so  floated  along,  picking  up  what  I  could  and  looking  at 
everything  in  the  light  of  the  use  it  might  be  to  me  at  the 
bar. 

I  believe  all  my  teachers  liked  me.  I  am  sure  that  Pro- 
fessor Emory  and  President  Durbin  were  fond  of  me.  Within 
a  few  days  Dr.  Durbin's  son-in-law,  Mr.  Harper,  of  Harper 
&  Brothers,  publishers,  told  me  that  the  dear  old  doctor,  up  to 
the  day  of  his  death,  would  frequently  speak  of  me,  and  always 
mention  me  with  pride  as  one  of  his  stars.  Generally  my  in- 
tercourse with  the  students,  so  far  as  I  know,  was  pleasant. 
I  was  never  called  before  the  faculty,  never  reprimanded. 
This  is  a  very  stupid  record  of  a  college  career.  I  am  at  a 
great  disadvantage  at  a  reunion  of  the  "  old  boys."  They  all 
have  some  narrative  to  tell,  but  if  I  stick  to  the  truth  I  cannot 
repeat  a  single  exploit. 

[In  the  paper  dated  May  lo,  1839,  from  which  Dr.  Deems 
drew  most  of  the  above  facts  concerning  his  college  life,  we 
find  near  and  at  the  end  the  interesting  extracts  which  follow 
this  parenthesis. — Ed.] 

In  a  few  weeks  my  collegiate  course  will  be  finished.  O 
Carlisle!  can  I  ever  forget  you?  Shall  I  cease  to  remember 
the  haunts  of  five  of  the  most  important  years  of  my  life? 


54 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


The  hand  of  time  can  never  erase  from  the  tablet  of  memory 
the  images  it  has  graven  there.  I  shall  cherish  the  remem- 
brance of  pleasant  walks  and  kind  friends,  and  I  can  never 
forget  hours  of  misery  and  a  few  bitter  foes.  Oh,  how  often 
in  after  life  will  I  call  up  to  my  mind's  eye  the  rooms  in  which 
I  have  pursued  my  studies,  the  hall  of  prayer,  the  sound  of 
the  bell  which  has  so  often  awakened  me  from  pleasant  dreams 
to  prepare  for  devotion,  and  which  has  frequently  fallen  on 
my  ear  as  a  death-knell  when  calling  me  to  the  discharge  of 
some  irksome  duty.  Nor  will  I  forget  the  countenances  of 
my  kind  professors,  the  jokes  and  sport  which  occasionally 
obtruded  themselves  into  the  recitation-rooms,  and  the  lugu- 
brious expression  which  sighs  from  the  face  of  every  unpre- 
pared student.  Above  all,  I  shall  remember,  "  while  thought 
or  life  or  being  last,"  the  path  which  connects  the  old  building 
with  the  front  gate.  How  often  have  I  paced  that  path, 
feasting  my  mind  with  thought,  and  drinking  in  the  imaginary 
melody  of  star-born  music ;  and  how  often  have  I  given  the 
heavy  sigh  which  burst  from  a  burdened  heart  to  the  night 
breeze  that  chilled  as  it  kissed  the  tear  from  my  cheek ;  and, 
when  my  poor  frail  body  has  been  exhausted,  sunk  upon  the 
cold  step  of  the  chapel  and  pressed  my  temples,  which  have 
seemed  ready  to  rend  with  intense  pain  and  the  agony  which 
a  too  sensitive  spirit  contracted  by  mingling  with  the  unfeeling. 

I  bid  you  all  a  prospective  farewell.  My  name  will  soon 
be  forgotten  here,  but  perhaps  these  sheets  will  fall  into  the 
hands  of  some  kind  friend,  who,  forgetting  my  thousand 
faults,  will  remember  my  few  virtues,  and  love  and  cherish 
my  memory. 

My  frail  bark  may  be  dashed  against  some  rock  in  the 
ocean  of  life;  but  whether,  in  my  dying  hour,  my  head  be 
pillowed  on  some  bosom  that  loves  me,  or  in  distant  lands 
where  no  friendly  hand  can  wipe  away  the  death-damps  that 


COLLEGE  LLFE  AT  CARLISLE 


55 


gather  on  my  brow,  I  wish  the  last  words  that  tremble  upon 
my  Hps  to  be,  "  1  have  not  hved  in  vain." 

Charles  M.  F.  Deems. 

Dickinson  College,  midnight, 
May,  10,  1839. 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to  trace  my  history  from  the  first 
dawn  of  memory  to  the  present  hour.  And  I  must  not  con- 
clude this  sketch  without  making  my  acknowledgments  to 
thee,  my  good  goose-quill,  for  having  so  patiently  accompanied 
me  over  these  ten  sheets  without  being  once  mended.  Thou 
shalt  soon  be  lost,  perhaps  sooner  than  thine  owner,  but  thou 
shalt,  nevertheless,  have  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  thou 
hast  been  the  wand  with  which  he  has  called  into  existence  the 
spirits  of  long-buried  thoughts  and  feelings. 


CHAPTER  IV 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED,  1 839-44 

I TOOK  my  degree  of  A.  B.  in  July,  1839,  and  went  to 
Baltimore  very  undecided  what  to  do.  Before  leaving  the 
college  President  Durbin  had  offered  me  the  choice  of  two 
places,  positions  of  very  great  responsibility ;  but  I  had  the 
good  sense  to  dechne  them.  One  was  the  principalship  of  a 
large  institution  for  young  men  and  women,  at  a  salary  of 
twelve  hundred  dollars  a  year,  which  was  equal  to  the  average 
salary  of  college  professors  at  the  time.  Something  was  to  be 
done.  I  intended  to  make  the  Christian  ministry  my  life-work. 
I  should  at  that  time  have  entered  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  but  for  the  doctrine  of  apostolic  succession.  For 
many  reasons  I  preferred  it  to  the  Presbyterian  or  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  I  did  not  believe  in  Calvinism,  and  I  did  not 
altogether  hke  Methodism.  But  I  could  not  persuade  myself 
that  the  doctrine  of  apostolic  succession  was  true,  and  without 
an  overmastering  belief  in  its  truth  I  could  not  become  a 
clergyman  in  a  church  which  would  ignore  my  father  and  my 
grandfather,  and  such  beloved  men  of  other  churches  as  I 
knew,  such  as  Dr.  Duffield,  of  Carlisle ;  and  so  I  was  very 
much  at  sea. 

I  had  not  the  means  of  going  to  a  theological  seminary,  and 
if  I  had  had  there  was  at  that  time  no  seminary  in  which 
Arminian  doctrines  were  taught,  and  I  did  not  care  to  take 
66 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


57 


training  at  the  hands  of  those  who  held  other  views.  My 
consolation  at  the  time  was  that  I  was  very  young,  and  that 
I  would  better  teach  awhile,  until  there  came  to  be  some 
opening  of  providence.  Somehow  I  felt  that  the  city  of  New 
York  was  to  be  the  great  city  of  the  Union,  and  that  would 
be  the  place  in  which  a  man  should  begin  who  looked  to  a 
long  run  of  influence  and  a  broadening  life. 

It  so  happened  that  my  father's  brother,  Mr.  Henry  W. 
Deems,  at  that  time  resided  in  the  city  of  New  York.  I  cor- 
responded with  him,  and  was  invited  to  go  to  New  York  and 
make  his  family  a  visit.  I  did  not  have  a  dollar  in  the  world, 
and  had  borrowed  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  from  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Durbin  to  pay  my  last  board  bill  when  I  left  college  and 
to  take  me  to  Baltimore.  Determining  that  if  I  continued  in 
the  Methodist  ministry  not  to  belong  to  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference, of  which  my  father  was  a  member,  I  felt  that  there 
might  be  better  openings  for  me  in  New  York.  When  I  had 
been  a  boy  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  David  Creamer  had  pub- 
lished what  was  called  the  "  Baltimore  Monument,"  in  which 
had  appeared  the  effusions  of  the  rising  young  writers  of 
that  city,  and  into  it  some  of  my  own  productions  had  been 
admitted.  Very  timidly  I  made  known  to  Mr.  Creamer  my 
thought  of  going  to  New  York ;  and  while  his  affection  for  me 
prompted  him  to  say  that  his  wishes  were  for  me  to  remain  in 
Baltimore,  his  judgment  approved  my  course ;  and  he  loaned 
me  twelve  dollars  and  a  half,  which  barely  took  me  to  the 
rising  metropolis. 

I  shall  never  forget  my  arrival  there.  The  possibility  is 
that  the  latter  portion  of  the  journey  was  made  in  a  steamer 
commanded  by  a  man  with  whom  a  half-century  later  I  was 
to  have  most  important  relations — Commodore  Vanderbilt. 
My  good  uncle,  Mr.  Henry  W.  Deems,  was  at  the  wharf. 
What  I  knew  of  New  York  I  had  derived  from  the  accounts 
of  travelers  and  from  the  "  Knickerbocker  Magazine,"  which 


58 


CHARLES  POkCE  DEEMS 


at  that  time  was  far  in  front  of  all  American  periodicals,  and 
from  the  bright  paragraphs  of  N.  P.  Willis,  who  was  a  favorite 
poet  with  collegians.  The  city  was  larger  than  Baltimore, 
having  at  that  time  a  population  of  312,710.  We  came  up 
town  in  the  Knickerbocker  omnibus,  past  the  office  of  the 
"  Knickerbocker  Magazine,"  turned  into  Bleecker  Street,— the 
finest  street  I  had  ever  seen,  the  houses  seemed  so  stately, — 
and  came  down  to  Carmine  Street,  only  a  short  distance  be- 
yond which  was  the  terminus  of  this  great  transportation  line. 
I  think  our  passage  cost  us  twenty-five  cents  each.  At  Car- 
mine Street  we  debarked,  and  I  went  to  my  uncle's  house, 
which  was  a  short  distance  around  the  corner  (No.  28).  It 
was  a  bewilderingly  big  thing  for  me  to  be  in  New  York ; 
twenty  years  afterward  London  did  not  seem  larger. 

The  first  thing  I  did  was  to  find  Bond  Street.  Bond  Street 
seemed  to  me  to  be  at  the  top  of  all  human  thoroughfares. 
The  local  love-stories  were  laid  in  Bond  Street ;  the  men  of 
wealth  lived  in  Bond  Street ;  in  every  woman  I  was  to  meet 
in  Bond  Street  I  expected  to  see  a  peri— such  girls  as  Willis 
was  accustomed  to  paint  in  his  "  Inklings  "  and  "  Hurrygraphs." 
There  was  a  little  disappointment,  I  confess ;  but  I  must  also 
confess  that  I  had  never  seen  so  many  noble  mansions  on  one 
block  in  my  life  as  in  1839  I  saw  on  that  short  street.  It 
must  be  remembered  how  small  the  city  was  then.  Mr.  Astor 
lived  at  No.  585  Broadway,  near  Prince  Street,— there  were 
no  business  houses  along  there  then,— and  there  was  no  house 
above  that  of  the  Roosevelts,  Broadway  and  Fourteenth  Street. 
Washington  Square  had  been  a  potter's  field  a  very  short  time 
before  this,  but  had  been  fenced  in  and  made  a  drilling-place 
for  the  local  mihtia  and  called  "  Washington  Parade-ground." 
A  few  houses  were  built  there.  Second  Avenue  was  laid  out, 
and  was  going  to  be  what  Fifth  Avenue  has  since  become,  but 
there  was  very  little  of  it.  This  was  just  about  the  time  that 
the  avenue  idea  had  taken  possession  of  the  minds  of  the 


PItOFESSIOXAL  LIFE  COMMENCED  59 


people.  Fourteenth  Street  was  the  highest  street  laid  out,  and 
very  little  of  that  was  curbed,— none  on  the  north  side, — so 
that  it  was  a  good  time  to  draw  Fourteenth  Street  as  the 
dividing  line  of  the  city,  just  as  in  former  times  Wall  Street 
had  been  considered ;  and  from  this  time  forth  the  city  grew 
with  more  regular  thoroughfares,  the  exception  being  the  old 
Bloomingdale  road,  as  Broadway  was  called,  which  continues 
running  its  course  regardless  of  rectangles,  bearing  northwest- 
ward toward  Albany. 

That  first  Saturday  night  in  New  York  was  clear,  with  a 
full  moon.  I  walked  up  Carmine  Street  to  Fourth  Street,  and 
turning  round  that  corner  soon  came  upon  Washington  Parade- 
ground,  with  its  iron  railing.  As  I  came  to  the  East  Side, 
the  new  university  rose  in  the  moonlight,  so  wonderfully 
beautiful  that  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  had  never  seen  such  a 
structure  before.  I  thought  it  was  a  church.  Across  the  street 
was  another,  and  I  wondered  that  two  such  splendid  churches 
should  be  together.  I  recollect  my  aspiration  then :  Oh,  if  I 
could  ever  preach  in  that  church!  How  httle  did  I  dream 
that  twenty-seven  years  afterward  I  should  be  preaching  in 
that  identical  building,  to  a  few  strangers  who  would  consoli- 
date into  a  church  to  be  probably  as  widely  known  as  any 
other  in  New  York ! 

The  literary  celebrity  in  New  York  whose  name  was  best 
known  to  me  was  William  Cullen  Bryant,  whose  "  Thanatopsis  " 
probably  every  college  boy  in  America  knew.  I  had  a  natural 
desire  to  look  upon  his  face.  I  found  from  the  directory  that 
he  lived  two  blocks  above  my  uncle's  house,  just  at  the  bend 
where  Carmine  Street  became  Sixth  Avenue,  a  few  doors  above 
Bleecker  Street  (No.  12  Carmine).  On  Sunday  morning  I 
walked  out  and  stood  in  front  of  the  house,  looking  at  it  with 
all  the  reverence  natural  to  a  youth  of  eighteen  who  himself 
had  a  manuscript  volume  of  poems  in  his  trunk,  which  he 
hoped  shortly  to  see  in  print.    You  see  there  was  a  sort  of 


60 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


brother-poet  feeling,  with  a  sprinkle  of  modesty  which  made 
me  feel  there  was  an  American  poet  a  good  ways  ahead  of 
me,  and  him  I  naturally  wished  to  look  upon.  While  I  was 
gazing  at  the  house  Mr.  Bryant  came  out :  a  man  apparently 
in  middle  life,  well  made,  hthe,  and  active.  A  httle  girl  was 
with  him.  They  started  up  Sixth  Avenue,  and  turned  at 
Fourth  Street  toward  Broadway.  At  a  respectful  distance  I 
followed  them.  Sometimes  he  would  waltz  the  little  girl 
around  him  on  the  pavement,  and  then  go  forward  with  a  few 
dancing  steps,  and  then  resume  a  sober  pace,  which  he  would 
occasionally  break  with  a  little  waltz.  They  went  to  Broad- 
way and  then  turned  north  and  entered  a  church,  and  I  fol- 
lowed. It  was  a  Unitarian  church,  standing  immediately  in 
front  of  the  present  site  of  the  New  York  Hotel.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Orville  Dewey  was  the  pastor,  and  he  preached  that  day. 
I  stayed  through  the  sermon,  and  followed  Bryant  and  his 
daughter  on  my  way  back  to  my  own  lodgings.  I  have  re- 
peatedly seen  Mr.  Bryant  since  that  day ;  but  that  little  girl  I 
have  seen  only  once,  and  then  when  I  met  her  she  was  the 
wife  of  Parke  Godwin  and  the  mother  of  a  daughter  who  also 
was  a  grown  woman. 

I  set  to  work  at  once  to  do  something.  My  family  and  the 
Reeses,  of  Baltimore,  had  been  friends.  At  that  time  there 
was  a  physician  well  known  in  New  York  City,  David  Meredith 
Reese,  who  resided  on  Hudson  Street.  He  was  the  leading 
practitioner  among  the  Methodists,  and  he  made  me  acquainted 
with  the  chief  people  of  that  denomination— with  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Nathan  Bangs,  the  chief  literary  man  of  Methodism  then  in 
America  ;  with  the  Rev.  Thomas  Mason  and  George  Lane,  who 
were  the  book-agents  of  the  Methodist  Church,  the  agency  hav- 
ing its  headquarters  at  No.  200  Mulberry  Street ;  with  the  Rev. 
George  Coles,  editor  of  the  "  Christian  Advocate  " ;  with  the 
Rev.  George  T.  Peck,  editing  the  "  Quarterly  Review  " ;  with 
Francis  Hall,  Esq.,  who  edited  the  "  Commercial  Advertiser," 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


61 


and  lived  one  block  below  Dr.  Reese.  Immediately  below  Mr. 
Hall's  was  St.  John's  Park,  in  front  of  St.  John's  Church,  and 
a  number  of  handsome  residences  were  around  it.  It  was  one 
of  the  aristocratic  quarters  of  the  city.  In  one  of  its  stately 
mansions  lived  Mr.  George  Suckely,  a  leading  Methodist 
layman.  Dr.  Reese  was  an  official  member  of  the  Vestry 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  then  called  the  "  First 
Wesleyan  Chapel."  This  and  the  Mulberry  Street  Church, 
called  the  "  Second  Wesleyan  Chapel,"  were  the  aristocratic 
worshiping-places  of  Methodism  in  New  York  City.  The 
officials  of  the  Book  Concern  mostly  gathered  around  Mul- 
berry Street,  which  also  was  strengthened  by  the  families  of 
the  Harpers,  publishers,  and  the  Disosways,  merchants.  But 
the  West  Side  Methodist  aristocrats  worshiped  in  Vestry  Street. 
Their  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Davis,  whom  I  had 
known  in  Baltimore,  where  he  had  at  one  time  been  stationed. 
He  had  been  a  friend  of  my  father,  and  immediately  took 
me  up  and  showed  me  friendship.  It  was  agreed  that  I 
should  begin  a  classical  school,  and  all  these  gentlemen  fur- 
nished pupils  and  found  others,  and  I  was  permitted  to  use 
rooms  in  the  basement  of  the  church  for  my  school.  I  entered 
upon  this  work  with  zeal,  and  commenced  writing  so  as  to 
make  money  to  pay  the  debts  which  I  had  contracted  in  clos- 
ing my  college  course  and  in  transporting  myself  to  New  York. 
Among  other  things  I  wrote  a  paper  for  the  "  Methodist 
Quarterly  Review,"  on  "  George  Crabbe  and  his  Poems,"  and 
I  also  wrote  a  little  volume  which  is  in  print  to  this  day  (1886), 
being  a  "  Life  of  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,"  the  great  Methodist  com- 
mentator. Of  course  this  small  volume  was  a  simple  compi- 
lation of  the  three  large  volumes  in  which  the  doctor's  life  was 
originally  published  in  Great  Britain.  Occasionally,  also,  I 
preached  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Davis,  and,  when  invited,  in 
other  churches.  I  have  recollections  of  three  of  those  occa- 
sions. 


62 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


One  Saturday  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davis  was  called  away  to  his 
dying  father,  and  when  I  went  down  to  the  Bible  class  on 
Sunday  morning  I  was  told  that  he  had  left  word  that  I  must 
preach.  I  did  not  know  what  to  do ;  it  was  a  great  surprise. 
I  had  at  that  time  preached  only  two  or  three  times  in  my  life. 
I  took  my  seat  in  the  chancel,  praying  and  praying  that  some 
one  might  come  in.  I  was  not  ordained,  and  so  could  not 
administer  the  communion,  and  there  were  the  elements  on 
the  table  in  the  chancel.  I  could  postpone  the  administration 
of  the  sacrament,  on  account  of  the  trouble  of  the  pastor,  but 
—  the  preaching!  In  the  midst  of  my  distress  of  mind  I  saw 
the  great  lumbering  figure  of  Dr.  Bangs,  who  carried  his  big 
head  always  to  one  side,  as  if  his  neck  were  too  weak  to  sus- 
tain it.  I  took  heart.  As  he  came  up  I  caught  his  hand  and 
said,  "O  doctor,  what  a  relief!  You  will  preach  for  the 
people  this  morning?  "  He  whispered  to  me  that  he  had  just 
got  out  of  his  bed ;  he  was  ill,  but  Dr.  Reese  thought  he  might 
come  over  and  administer  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
"  But,"  said  he,  "  you  are  to  preach."  I  had  all  a  boy's  shy- 
ness in  addition  to  my  reverence  for  Dr.  Bangs,  the  man  of 
letters  of  greatest  fame  in  the  Methodist  Church ;  and  I  had 
also  that  sense  of  responsibility  which  frightens  me  to  this  day, 
so  that  I  never  even  now  go  into  the  pulpit  without  it,  and  some- 
times it  is  so  severe  that  I  am  on  the  point  of  running  across 
the  river  to  Jersey  and  letting  things  go  as  they  will.  After 
nearly  fifty  years  of  preaching  (1886)  I  often  make  the  usher 
stop  just  an  instant  when  his  hand  is  upon  the  door  to  open 
it  to  let  me  in ;  so  it  may  be  fancied  in  what  a  state  of  mind  I 
went  to  the  pulpit  on  that  day!  When  they  were  singing  the 
hymn  after  the  prayer  and  preceding  the  sermon,  I  said  to  Dr. 
Bangs,  "  Oh  dear,  doctor,  what  shall  I  do,  what  shall  I  do?  " 
The  good  old  man  said  to  me,  "  My  young  brother,  trust  in 
God  and  have  no  fear  of  man,  whicli  brings  a  snare.  Tell  the 
people  what  is  in  your  heart."    I  could  hear  him  praying  be- 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


63 


hind  me  while  I  preached.  The  condition  of  affairs  gave  me 
very  considerable  excitement,  and  I  finished  some  kind  of  a 
sermon  without  breaking  down,  and  comforted  myself  all  I 
could  at  the  holy  communion,  trusting  that  God  would  make 
up  for  all  deficiencies. 

The  effect  of  that  sermon  upon  Dr.  Bangs's  mind  was  such 
that,  a  vacancy  occurring  at  Sands  Street  Church,  which  at  that 
time  was  the  principal  seat  of  Methodism  in  Brooklyn,  Dr. 
Bangs  actually  suggested  me  as  the  temporary  pastor ;  but  this 
also  I  had  the  sense  to  decline. 

I  have  recollection  of  another  sermon.  It  was  preached 
for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gilder,  pastor  of  Allen  Street  Methodist 
Church.  There  was  a  revival.  The  house  was  crowded,  the 
aisles  being  so  packed  that  I  think  we  made  entrance  through 
a  back  window.  The  magnates  of  Methodism  were  here  in 
full  force.  The  crowd  and  the  circumstances  naturally  excited 
me,  and  I  was  coming  to  have  the  dreadful  reputation  of  being 
a  "boy-preacher."  I  recollect  my  text  on  the  occasion— "I 
pray  thee  have  me  excused."  I  preached  with  might  and 
main,  and,  following  the  custom  of  the  denomination,  at  the 
close  of  the  sermon  I  invited  penitents  to  the  "altar,"  as  the 
Methodists  call  the  chancel,  although  at  this  day  they  turn 
with  great  revulsion  from  the  use  of  the  word  "altar"  by 
their  Protestant  Episcopal  brethren.  They  came  in  great 
number,  they  knelt  three  deep  around  the  entire  chancel,  and 
it  was  a  very  exciting  scene. 

When  I  sat  down  an  old  gentleman  came  into  the  pulpit 
and  asked  me  if  I  did  not  want  to  go  to  Wesleyan  University, 
and  gave  me  his  name  as  Dr.  Laban  Clarke.  I  supposed  it 
was  a  proposition  to  take  a  tutorship  at  least,  if  not  a  profes- 
sorship. It  was  some  time  before  the  venerable  man  succeeded 
in  making  me  understand  that  he  wished  me  to  go  to  the  uni- 
versity to  be  educated.  Somehow  he  had  not  got  any  of  my 
previous  history.    When  it  dawned  upon  me  that  he  was  a 


64 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


traveling  agent  for  that  college  and  was  endeavoring  to  beat 
up  students,  I  was  greatly  amused,  and  shall  never  forget  the 
expression  of  his  countenance  when  I  told  him  I  was  an  A.B. 
of  Dickinson  College.  Next  day  it  dawned  upon  me  that  my 
discourse  must  have  struck  the  old  gentleman  as  a  very  crude 
affair  ;  that  he  saw  in  it  nothing  fulfilled,  but  enough  of  promise 
to  justify  an  effort  to  give  me  a  college  training.  This  so 
mortified  me  that  I  never  had  the  courage  to  ask  him  how  on 
earth  he  could  have  made  such  a  proposition  to  me.  The  only 
emollient  that  I  could  apply  to  my  wounded  vanity  was  that, 
in  point  of  fact,  I  was  only  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  weighed 
only  ninety-five  pounds.  But  even  so,  it  occurred  to  me  that 
the  right  course  for  him  to  have  taken  would  have  been  for 
him  to  turn  upon  the  authorities  of  the  church  for  allowing 
such  a  youth  as  myself  to  officiate  on  prominent  occasions. 

I  have  recollections  of  a  third  sermon,  the  record  of  which 
requires  a  preliminary  statement.  Upon  leaving  college  I  paid 
a  visit  to  Mr.  James  Inness,  a  college  mate  residing  in  Newark. 
He  had  a  cousin,  a  very  charming  young  lady,  whose  intimate 
friend  was  the  daughter  of  a  prominent  Methodist  merchant 
in  New  York.  This  merchant  had  his  country-seat  in  the 
suburbs  of  Newark.  The  house  is  now  (1886)  in  the  center 
of  the  city.  This  young  lady  insisted  that  her  cousin  Jim 
should  take  me  to  see  Annie  Disosway,  whom  I  had  seen  at 
the  carriage  when  Jim  and  his  cousin  and  I  were  driving  past 
the  house,  and  Amanda  had  stopped  to  have  a  little  chat  with 
Annie.  We  walked  up  the  lawn,  entered  the  house,  were 
shown  into  the  parlor,  and  Miss  Annie  arose  and  greeted  us ; 
but  after  a  very  few  words  became  reabsorbed  with  a  visitor 
who  had  entered  before  us,  and  who,  I  learned,  was  a  wealthy 
young  cousin  from  Philadelphia;  she  paid  litde  attention  to 
Jim  and  myself — he  was  an  old  neighbor,  and  I  made  no 
impression.  I  learned  afterward  that  her  father  drove  up 
from  New  York  as  Jim  and  I  were  leaving  the  grounds,  and 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED  65 


upon  catechizing  Annie  as  to  who  we  were  she  mentioned  my 
name,  and  her  father  thought  it  exceedingly  strange  that  she 
had  not  invited  me  to  stay  to  tea.  Why,  she  never  thought 
of  doing  such  a  thing  "with  that  college  boy"!  "College 
boy,  college  boy,  Annie,"  said  her  father ;  "  why,  that  boy  is 
preaching  in  some  of  the  first  churches  in  New  York!"  She 
then  awakened  to  a  sense  of  her  condition — that  she  had  not 
treated  me  with  the  respect  due  even  the  youngest  and  lowliest 
of  the  servants  of  the  Lord,  for  she  was  exceedingly  devout, 
and  the  ministry  in  her  eyes  was  a  sacred  thing. 

It  so  happened  that  when  the  family  returned  to  town  I 
was  invited  by  their  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Edmund  S.  Janes, 
who  afterward  became  bishop,  to  preach  in  the  Mulberry 
Street  Church.  After  the  sermon  there  was  to  be  a  meeting 
for  some  parochial  business,  and  I  did  not  remain.  As  I 
passed  down  the  aisle  I  saw  Miss  Annie  give  her  brother  a 
sign  to  go  out  and  speak  to  me,  which  he  did,  telling  me  when 
we  reached  the  vestibule  how  his  father  regretted  not  being  at 
home  when  I  was  at  their  place  in  Newark,  and  inviting  me 
to  visit  them  at  their  city  residence,  which,  however,  I  did  not 
do.    Miss  Annie  had  not  yet  captivated  me. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1840  the  confinement  to  my  school, 
to  my  writing,  and  to  supplying  pulpits  began  to  have  such  an 
effect  upon  my  health  as  to  cause  Dr.  Reese  to  advise  my 
removal  from  the  city.  I  then  made  up  my  mind  to  enter  the 
itinerancy  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  took  a  recommenda- 
tion to  the  New  Jersey  Conference.  It  was  presented  by  my 
mother's  old  friend,  Manning  Force,  after  whom  I  was  named, 
and  who  at  that  time  was  presiding  elder  of  a  western  district 
in  that  conference.  At  the  time  I  was  accepted  I  was  on  a 
visit  to  some  college  friends  in  Alexandria.  When  the  ap- 
pointments were  made  I  was  assigned  to  be  the  colleague  of 
the  Rev.  George  Banghart,  of  the  Asbury  circuit.  This  hap- 
pened to  be  in  Warren  County,  in  the  extreme  western  portion 


66 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


of  the  State,  a  high,  hilly,  healthy,  and  beautiful  country.  The 
circuit  took  its  name  from  a  village  called  Asbury,  and  that 
took  its  name  from  Bishop  Asbury  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Old  Colonel  McCullough  once  owned  a  large  portion 
of  that  country.  He  lived  like  a  baron  on  his  estate,  and 
ruled  that  whole  district.  His  house  was  beautifully  located, 
and  near  it  he  had  built  a  church,  which  was  one  of  the  stop- 
ping-places of  the  old  itinerant  Methodist  bishop,  and  around 
the  manor  had  grown  the  village.  Two  young  fellows  from 
New  York  had  made  love  to  the  rich  old  Methodist  noble- 
man's daughters.  One  was  William  Van  Antwerp,  of  a  good 
Dutch  family,  and  the  other  was  Israel  D.  Disosway,  of  an 
equally  good  Huguenot  family.  When  I  reached  Asbury  Mr. 
William  Van  Antwerp,  who  had  two  grown  daughters,  lovely 
girls,  and  educated  at  the  best  schools  in  New  York,  occupied 
the  old  McCullough  mansion ;  Colonel  McCullough  had  been 
dead  a  number  of  years.  Across  the  road  was  the  Disosway 
domain,  Mr.  Disosway  occupying  a  little  cottage  preliminary 
to  the  building  of  another  large  mansion.  I  went  up  to  my 
work,  saw  my  colleague,  who  was  a  short,  fleshy  man  with 
bright  eyes,  a  strong  voice,  and  considerable  gift  at  singing. 
He  had  the  old-fashioned  Methodist  fervor. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  I  had  just  passed  my  twentieth 
year  in  December  when  I  went  to  this  region  in  the  following 
spring.  I  was  entertained  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Van  Antwerp, 
whose  family  immediately  took  me  up  very  warmly,  and  I  had 
a  lovely  time  with  the  girls,  who  belonged  to  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed Church,  their  father— at  that  time  a  prosperous  whole- 
sale hardware  merchant  on  Pearl  Street— having  contributed 
largely  to  the  church  built  by  Dr.  Mathews  on  the  north  side 
of  Washington  Square.  Now  the  uncle,  Mr.  Disosway,  who 
lived  on  the  other  side  of  the  road  and  was  building  the  new 
mansion,  was  the  father  of  Miss  Annie  Disosway.  Fortunately 
for  me  she  was  still  in  the  city.    I  studied  in  a  room  I  had  in 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED  67 

the  village,  preached  at  the  church  there,  and  took  my  regular 
round  on  the  circuit,  which  included  a  village  which  has  since 
become  the  large  and  prosperous  town  of  Washington.  But 
at  last  Miss  Disosway  was  to  come  up  from  the  city.  The 
curious  thing  to  me  was  that  while  this  young  lady  impressed 
me  so  little,  except  with  her  white  teeth,  her  blooming  com- 
plexion, her  ladylikeness,  and  her  little  affectations,  as  they 
seemed  to  me,  she  appeared  to  be  idolized  by  all  who  knew 
her :  the  bishops,  the  clergy,  the  leading  laymen  of  her  church 
who  knew  the  family,  her  kinspeople,  these,  her  two  lovely 
cousins,  Libby  and  Mary  Van  Antwerp,  all  spoke  of  her  as 
being  the  best  girl  there  was  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  and 
the  sweetest.  Unfortunately  for  my  peace  of  mind  she  was 
also  wonderfully  conscientious.  I  did  not  know  how  she  was 
going  to  meet  me,  but  she  did  meet  me  with  a  fervor  and  a 
gush  of  which  she  herself  must  have  been  conscious ;  for  she 
blushed  to  the  roots  of  her  hair  at  the  warmth  of  her  saluta- 
tion, perhaps  checked  at  the  coolness  of  mine  ;  for  in  my  heart 
of  hearts  I  was  sorry  she  had  come ;  I  felt  she  would  be  de 
trap  in  our  circle.  Her  warmth  arose  from  no  regard  for  me 
personally ;  it  was  simply  that  she  had  been  brooding  over  the 
sin  which  she  had  committed  in  treating  me,  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  as  if  I  were  an  ordinary  college  boy.  She  had  deter- 
mined, as  she  afterward  said,  to  make  atonement  for  that  by 
devoted  attention  to  me  when  she  came  to  the  country.  In 
alluding  to  it  since  I  have  often  playfully  told  her  that  I 
thought  she  rather  overdid  the  thing ;  for  when  my  recogni- 
tion of  the  feeHng  came,  when  I  found  that  she  had  the  inno- 
cence of  a  new-born  babe  united  with  uncommon  good  sense, 
ladylike  manners,  and  a  delicate  conscientiousness  which 
shaped  her  whole  life,  from  dislike  to  her  I  went  to  the  other 
extreme,  and  everybody  can  see  what  followed. 

When  I  was  a  boy  at  school,  in  Baltimore,  I  had  made  up 
my  mind  upon  coming  of  age  to  go  to  North  Carolina,  to 


68 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


settle  in  the  town  of  Asheville,  in  Buncombe  County,  and 
marry  a  mountain  girl.  The  North  Carolina  project  was 
carried  through,  all  except  the  settling  in  Asheville  and  the 
marrying  a  mountain  girl — my  little  Asbury  friend  prevented 
the  mountain  girl.  But  still  I  had  a  strange  drawing  toward 
North  Carolina.  Miss  Annie  Disosway's  pastor,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Janes,  had  become  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  American 
Bible  Society.  He  was  very  much  interested  in  my  affairs, 
one  of  his  pet  projects  being  to  marry  me  to  Miss  Disosway. 
I  wrote  to  the  American  Bible  Society  to  know  if  they  had  an 
agency  anywhere  in  the  South  that  I  could  secure.  A  letter 
came  back  to  me  very  promptly,  saying  that  the  society  was 
delighted  at  my  turning  my  attention  to  their  interests,  and 
they  would  give  me  shortly  a  very  excellent  position,  but  at 
the  present  there  was  but  one  Southern  State  vacant,  and  that 
was  one  which  they  would  not  think  of  offering  to  me.  In 
reply  to  my  question  as  to  which  Southern  State  that  was, 
they  told  me  it  was  North  Carolina.  It  surprised  the  society 
to  learn  that  that  was  the  identical  State  I  desired  above  all 
others,  and  that  I  would  take  some  modest  agency  for  some 
portion  of  the  State.  I  was  immediately  appointed  general 
agent  for  the  whole  State.  This  was  stunning ;  but  I  had  been 
declining  big  things  so  long  I  thought  I  would  change  my 
tactics,  especially  as  now  I  was  a  whole  year  older  than  when 
I  was  graduated ;  and,  although  not  yet  having  attained  my 
majority,  I  accepted  the  appointment. 

After  a  year  of  preaching,  making  love,  and  multifarious 
other  businesses  pertaining  to  that  peculiar  transition  period 
of  a  man's  life,  I  left  to  take  charge  of  my  Southern  work.  I 
never  had  seen  a  North  Carohnian  in  my  life  until  I  reached 
Washington  City  on  my  way  to  my  field.  There  I  met  the 
Hon.  William  A.  Graham,  of  the  United  States  Senate,  to 
whom  I  had  a  letter  from  New  York.  Mr.  Graham  received 
me  politely.    He  was  an  unusually  handsome,  stately,  yet 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


69 


graceful  man.  If  all  the  North  Carolinians  I  was  to  meet 
were  to  be  like  William  A.  Graham,  I  felt  that  I  had  seen  no 
such  society.  Truth  compels  me  to  say  that  after  I  became 
a  North  Carolinian  myself  I  saw  a  number  of  grown  men  who 
were  not  nearly  so  captivating  as  the  graceful  William  A. 
Graham. 

I  stopped  in  Richmond,  Va.,  and  became  acquainted  with 
Dr.  Leroy  M.  Lee,  who  was  editor  of  the  "  Richmond  Chris- 
tian Advocate."  My  headquarters  were  at  the  Powhatan  Ho- 
tel. I  saw  several  leading  Virginia  lawyers  in  the  courts,  and 
Richmond  seemed  to  me  a  very  charming  little  Southern  city. 
Just  forty-five  years  after  that  I  had  occasion  to  stop  in  Rich- 
mond on  my  way  South,  and  went  to  Ford's  Hotel,  which 
had  in  it  something  so  familiar  that  I  made  inquiry  and  found 
that  that  was  the  hotel  which  anciently  had  borne  the  name 
of  Powhatan. 

My  entrance  upon  my  work  was  not  brilliant.  The  first 
place  at  which  I  stopped  in  North  Carolina  was  Gaston,  then 
a  wretched  little  hamlet,  having  a  little  tavern  in  which  every- 
thing was  as  filthy  as  anything  I  have  ever  seen  in  the  way  of 
human  shelter  in  Asia  or  in  Africa.  You  could  touch  nothing 
that  would  not  stick  to  you— the  spoon,  the  cup  ;  and  the  cup 
of  coffee  was  a  round  lake  in  which  there  were  floating  isles 
of  grease.  Everybody  that  was  not  drunk  was  sleepy.  There 
had  been  a  cock-fight  the  day  before  my  arrival,  and  I  reached 
Gaston  to  see  a  number  of  young  planters  who  had  been 
carousing  during  the  night  till  early  in  the  morning  and  had 
left  nothing  fit  to  touch.  I  felt  that  if  all  North  Carolina  were 
like  Gaston,  and  the  majority  of  North  Carolinians  were  like 
these  dirty,  tobacco-smeared,  tangle-haired,  blear-eyed  young 
ruffians,  by  God's  help  I  would  get  out  of  the  commonwealth 
in  less  than  a  week.  But  young  as  I  was,  I  was  too  old  a 
traveler  to  expect  to  find  North  Carolina  made  up  altogether 
of  men  like  William  A.  Graham  or  like  the  young  planters  of 


70 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Halifax  and  Warren.  Down  the  Raleigh  and  Gaston  Rail- 
road I  proceeded  to  Henderson.  I  had  heard  there  was  a 
very  estimable  Methodist  merchant  residing  there,  named 
Wyche,  that  this  gentleman  had  been  a  member  of  the  State 
legislature,  and  that  he  could  give  me  a  good  start  on  my  mis- 
sion. Upon  depositing  my  luggage,  purposely  condensed  into 
a  small  space,  I  called  upon  Mr.  Wyche.  He  gave  me  the 
coldest  kind  of  a  reception,  did  not  invite  me  to  his  house,  but 
informed  me  that  a  stage  would  leave  in  a  few  hours  for  Dan- 
ville, Va.,  where  I  could  meet  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bryant,  who  was 
presiding  elder  over  a  district  of  the  North  Carolina  Confer- 
ence. It  was  very  plain  that  this  estimable  gentleman  desired 
to  transfer  the  charge  of  me  to  some  one  else.  Years  after 
that,  I  may  stop  here  to  say,  his  son,  the  Rev.  Ira  T.  Wyche, 
and  his  son-in-law,  the  Rev.  John  Tillett,  became  my  de- 
voted friends,  and  I  learned  from  them  that  Mr.  Wyche  felt 
so  disgusted  that  the  American  Bible  Society  should  bestow 
its  general  agency  upon  such  a  poor-looking  little  Yankee  as 
I  was  that  he  felt  as  though  he  did  not  want  to  have  anything 
more  to  do  with  the  work. 

I  took  the  stage,  the  one  mode  of  conveyance  in  those  days, 
and  went  to  Danville.  It  was  a  long,  hard,  and  doleful  ride. 
I  seemed  to  be  going  out  of  the  State  to  which  I  had  been 
sent.  My  funds  were  running  low.  When  I  reached  Dan- 
ville the  Rev.  Mr.  Bryant  was  out  of  town  and  would  not  be 
back  for  three  days.  I  put  up  at  a  hotel  immediately  on  the 
riverside  to  await  the  coming  of  this  gentleman.  I  felt  that  I 
could  not  take  another  step  till  I  saw  him ;  in  point  of  fact,  I 
did  not  know  how  to  get  back  into  North  Carolina.  To  take 
the  stage  in  return  would  exhaust  my  money  and  send  me  into 
a  region  whose  temperature  had  been  greatly  lowered  for  me 
by  the  presence  of  the  cold  Mr.  Wyche.  Whereupon  it  set  in 
to  rain,  and  it  rained  three  or  four  days,  and  I  stayed  on  in 
the  hotel.  I  must  have  made  a  pitiful  appearance,  for  the  wife 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


71 


and  the  sister-in-law  of  the  tavern-keeper  plainly  took  com- 
passion on  me,  and  I  could  see  on  the  second  day,  as  I  sat 
eating  my  melancholy  meal,  that  they  were  making  designs 
upon  me.  One  of  them  at  last  came  to  me  and  said  I  might 
be  lonely  up  in  my  room,  and,  if  I  chose,  any  time  I  could 
come  down  and  be  in  the  sitting-room  of  the  family,  if  the 
children  would  not  annoy  me.  Now  that  was  quite  an  open- 
ing. I  felt  as  Mungo  Park  did,  while  staying  in  the  wilds 
of  Africa,  when  the  native  women  gathered  about  him  and 
sang  him  songs  of  compassion.  It  was  a  lonely  position  for 
a  boy  twenty  years  of  age,  with  his  first  undertaking  among 
strangers,  mightily  in  love  and  most  uncommonly  poor.  By 
and  by,  however,  Mr.  Bryant  came  and  everything  changed. 

He  was  a  man  much  below  medium  size,  with  a  Jewish 
countenance,  his  hook  nose  a  little  bent  toward  the  right.  He 
was  bright,  buoyant,  witty,  and  sometimes  impassionedly  elo- 
quent. Mr.  Brj'ant  received  me  most  heartily,  entered  cordially 
into  the  matter  of  laying  out  work  for  me,  and  gave  me  a  good 
start  in  my  operations.  We  went  down  into  Caswell  County, 
one  of  the  northern  tiers  of  counties  in  North  Carohna  and 
not  far  from  Danville.  Mr.  Bryant  was  to  perform  the  service 
at  the  marriage  of  a  young  lady  in  the  highest  circle  of  society 
in  that  part  of  the  coun  ry.  It  gave  me  an  introduction  to 
the  principal  people  whom  I  wished  to  know  in  Caswell 
County— to  the  United  States  senator,  Bedford  Brown,  to  the 
eloquent  lawyer,  John  Kerr,  who  was  my  lifelong  friend  and 
who  died  while  on  the  superior  bench  of  North  Carohna,  to 
Dr.  Williamson,  a  physician  and  planter  of  great  influence  and 
a  leading  man  in  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Bryant  laid  out 
the  plan  for  me,  gave  me  letters,  and  arranged  appointments. 
At  that  time  the  Methodist  camp-meetings  were  going  forward, 
and  I  was  sent  out  to  Iredell  County  to  meet  the  Rev.  Peter 
Doub,  who  was  a  presiding  elder  and  a  man  of  great  native 
power,  who  had  acquired  more  than  usual  learning  under  the 


72 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


difficulties  of  the  Methodist  itinerancy.  All  through  the  coun- 
try, as  I  went  preaching  and  making  collections  for  the  soci- 
ety, I  heard  accounts  of  Mr.  Doub's  strength  and  length  of 
preaching.  I  was  told  of  sermons  extending  over  three  hours, 
which  seemed  to  be  as  great  as  they  could  be  so  far  as  the 
people  could  understand  them,  and  how  much  greater  they 
were  beyond  that  no  man  in  North  Carolina  had  yet  been 
able  to  determine.  I  remember  that  I  drove  up  to  the  camp- 
ground in  Iredell  County,  hitched  my  horse,  inquired  for  the 
preachers'  tent,  went  in,  and  found  that  services  were  going 
forward  at  the  "  stand,"  as  the  pulpit  was  called,  and  that  Mr. 
Doub  was  holding  forth.  I  stood  where  I  could  hear  the 
conclusion  of  his  sermon.  He  was  a  large  man,  of  great  physi- 
cal vigor  and  of  real  mental  robustness.  I  heard  only  the 
last  few  ringing  falls  of  his  sledge-hammer  on  the  anvil  of  his 
text.  The  hymn  was  sung,  and  after  the  prayer  he  came  to 
the  tent,  where  I  was  introduced  to  him. 

At  that  camp-meeting  I  preached  every  day,  and  I  think  it 
did  me  a  world  of  good.  All  young  preachers,  upon  quitting 
the  college  or  theological  seminary,  ought  to  seek  a  round  of 
camp-meetings  and  preach  whenever  they  can  get  a  chance 
—at  a  real,  genuine,  old-fashioned  camp-meeting;  not  your 
camp-meeting  on  grounds  where  they  have  houses  three  and 
a  half  stories  high  with  gable  ends  to  the  streets,  but  where 
there  are  tents  and  wagons,  and  nothing  else  to  sleep  in,  and 
where  people  are  gathered  from  great  distances.  No  man 
could  read  a  litde  twenty  minutes'  moral  essay  there ;  neither 
men  nor  angels  could  endure  the  ridiculousness  of  that.  He 
has  got  to  turn  himself  loose  and  preach  with  a  swing.  I  am 
very  thankful  to  my  old  friend  Doub  for  keeping  me  that  sum- 
mer at  camp-meetings.  Physically  and  mentally  it  nearly  wore 
me  out,  but  it  loosened  my  mental  joints  and  made  me  un- 
commonly supple.  I  was  taken  so  young— not  yet  of  age- 
that  I  had  the  full  benefit  of  tuition  like  this. 


PROFESSIOXAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


73 


At  the  close  of  the  camp-meetings  of  Mr.  Doub's  district  I 
made  my  way  to  the  town  of  Salem,  in  Forsyth  County.  This 
is  an  old  settlement  by  the  Moravians.  For  years  they  have 
had  a  noted  female  school  at  this  place,  which  has  educated 
several  generations  of  Southern  girls,  and  many  of  the  leading 
families  of  the  Southern  States,  from  Virginia  to  Louisiana, 
have  been  represented  at  this  school.  The  town  and  seminary 
were  more  like  my  imaginings  of  a  foreign  place  than  anything 
I  had  ever  seen.  I  was  the  guest  of  the  excellent  Bishop  Van 
Vleck,  not  only  as  agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  but 
also  as  the  friend  of  the  family  of  his  cousin  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
who  were  intimates  of  Miss  Annie  Disosway.  Everything  was 
very  quaint  and  very  simple  and  to  me  very  sweet.  Every 
attention  was  shown  me,  and  I  was  invited  to  preach  in  what 
might  be  called  their  cathedral.  I  recollect  two  incidents  in 
that  visit.  Naturally,  love  and  marriage  were  favorite  topics 
with  me,  and  so  one  evening  I  led  the  conversation  to  the 
method  among  the  Moravians.  I  said  to  the  good  bishop  that 
I  did  not  quite  approve  this  taking  a  wife  by  lot.  "  Why 
not?"  said  he.  "Oh,  it  seems  to  me,"  I  replied,  "that  it  is 
not  only  devoid  of  sentiment,  but  has  the  appearance  of  tempt- 
ing God."  He  set  his  views  before  me  after  this  fashion. 
There  was  no  tempting  God,  but  implicit  trust  in  God.  All 
Christian  people  believe  in  a  special  providence ;  why  should 
not  a  heavenly  Father  care  as  much  for  the  mating  of  his 
children  as  earthly  parents  do?  Moreover,  when  a  Moravian 
had  a  wife  assigned  to  him  by  lot,  he  took  her  precisely  as  if 
the  sky  opened  and  God  handed  her  down  to  his  arms,  and 
she  came  to  him  in  the  same  spirit.  Now,  two  people,  he 
thought,  marrying  in  this  way  would  be  better  prepared  to  en- 
dure the  strain  made  upon  them  by  the  prosy  and  drudging 
details  and  often  harassing  anxieties  of  married  life ;  they 
would  never  think  of  divorce  on  account  of  incompatibility  of 
temper.    They  might  have  been  brought  together  just  be- 


74 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


cause  of  that  incompatibility,  if  such  existed ;  or,  having  been 
brought  together  of  God,  perhaps  there  was  no  such  thing 
as  this  fancied  incompatibihty.  He  instanced  his  own  case, 
where  his  wife  had  been  selected  for  him  at  Herrnhut,  in  Ger- 
many. He  had  never  seen  her  until  he  met  her  on  the  wharf 
in  Philadelphia.  "  I  doubt,"  he  said,  looking  at  the  dumpy 
little  German  frau  with  fond  eyes,  "if  I  could  have  made  a 
better  choice  if  I  had  taken  many  years  and  searched  all  the 
States  through."  "  Oh  yes,"  I  said ;  "  but  yours  happened  to 
be  a  happy  union ;  but  really,  now,  are  there  not  many  mis- 
takes made  by  this  method?"  He  turned  to  me  and  said, 
"  My  young  friend,  when  you  come  to  be  older  you  will  find 
that  there  are  a  great  many  mistakes  made  by  the  other  meth- 
od, where  a  man  has  no  one  to  blame  but  himself  for  his  own 
choice."  I  felt  that  there  was  great  force  in  this,  but  at  the 
same  time  I  had  a  secret  conviction  that  I  had  not  made  any 
mistake. 

From  Salem  I  came  to  the  town  of  Greensboro,  which  was 
afterward  to  be  my  home.  I  had  a  horse  and  a  sulky. 
Coming  down  the  hill  just  west  of  the  town,  my  horse  stum- 
bled and  broke  one  shaft  in  falling,  the  other  shaft  as  he  at- 
tempted to  rise ;  but  he  fell  again,  and  I  was  drawn  across  him. 
I  lay  perfectly  still  until  I  could  gather  the  reins,  and  then, 
putting  my  two  hands  on  his  side,  I  leaped  as  far  from  him  as 
I  could.  He  was  up  as  quickly  as  myself,  and  shivering,  his 
flanks  trembling  with  the  splinters  which  had  been  driven  into 
them  like  arrows.  If  I  had  not  made  the  arrangement  with 
the  reins  before  I  rose  I  should  have  been  in  very  great  peril. 
But  having  had  him  now  for  a  number  of  weeks,  we  had  be- 
come friends,  and  he  allowed  me  to  extract  the  splinters  and 
fasten  him  to  a  fence,  which  I  afterward  learned  was  on 
Governor  Moorhead's  grounds.  Gathering  together  my  little 
luggage,  I  walked  into  the  town  and  went,  as  I  was  directed, 
to  the  house  of  Dr.  Lindsay,  the  leading  physician  of  the 


PROI-ESSIOXAL  LIFE  COMMENCED  75 

place,  where  I  found  the  Methodist  pastor,  the  Rev.  Solomon 
Lea,  and  his  presiding  elder,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brock.  The  first 
was  a  scholarly  man  and  had  been  a  school-teacher ;  the  sec- 
ond was  a  very  handsome  man,  after  the  style  of  General  Jack- 
son, but  not  a  learned  man.  His  library  consisted  of  but 
little  beyond  a  Bible,  a  Methodist  Discipline,  a  Methodist 
hymn-book,  an  almanac,  and  a  file  of  the  "  Richmond  Chris- 
tian Advocate."  Most  of  his  thinking  was  plainly  done  with- 
out the  aid  of  reading,  but  he  was  a  verj'  superior  man.  I 
had  my  duster  on,  and  plenty  of  dust,  and  my  small  valise  in 
my  hand. 

Meeting  the  two  ministers  on  the  porch,  we  sat  and  talked 
for  some  time.  On  this,  as  on  almost  every  occasion  upon 
meeting  prominent  men  in  North  Carolina,  the  look  was  given 
of  wonder  that  I  should  be  the  general  agent  of  the  American 
Bible  Society.  I  knew  what  it  meant ;  I  knew  that  I  weighed 
only  one  hundred  and  one  pounds,  that  I  was  slightly  below 
five  and  a  half  feet  in  height,  and  that  I  looked  as  if  I  should 
be  in  the  junior  year  in  college.  My  anxiety  always  was  lest 
this  should  interfere  with  the  success  of  my  work  as  agent  for 
the  great  society,  which  I  was  serving  not  in  a  perfunctory 
manner,  but  with  a  great  delight  in  being  instrumental  in  dis- 
tributing copies  of  the  Word  of  God.  Mr.  Lea  was  a  nervous 
man  ;  Mr.  Brock  was  imperturbable.  After  we  had  conversed 
for  some  time,  and  I  had  given  an  account  of  the  camp-meet- 
ings I  had  attended,  I  told  them  at  last  that  my  horse  was 
tied  to  a  fence  on  the  roadside  and  the  remnants  of  my  sulky 
were  near  him.  Mr.  Brock  sprang  up  at  once  and  called  for 
a  colored  serving-man  to  come  with  us,  and  we  four  proceeded 
immediately  to  the  scene  of  my  disaster.  When  about  half- 
way there  Mr.  Brock  suddenly  stopped  and,  looking  at  me, 
said,  "  You'll  do  ;  I  hke  you!  "  "  I  am  glad  you  think  so,"  I 
replied,  "but  why  do  you  hke  me?"  "Because  you  didn't 
tell  yotu:  story  until  you  were  ready."    "  Well,"  said  I,  "  I  can 


76 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


return  the  compliment ;  I  like  you,  and  for  the  reason  that, 
although  you  saw  me  come  into  the  house  in  the  strange  con- 
dition in  which  I  was,  you  asked  me  no  questions  until  I  was 
ready  to  tell  my  story."  From  that  time  on  till  the  day  of 
his  death,  in  the  far  West  in  after  years,  Moses  Brock  and  I 
were  fast  friends. 

The  day  after  my  arrival  Mr.  Brock  took  me  out  to  another 
hill  at  the  west  of  the  town  and  showed  me  the  site  of  the 
projected  Greensboro  Female  College,  of  which  he  was  a 
trustee  and  an  earnest  promoter.  I  gave  him  what  views  I 
had  on  the  subject  of  female  education,  which  of  course  at 
that  time  were  crude  enough,  but  I  had  seen  some  schools 
at  the  North.  I  asked  him  if  he  were  also  trustee  of  the  Ran- 
dolph-Macon College,  the  Methodist  college  for  boys  in  Vir- 
ginia, belonging  to  the  two  conferences.  He  said  no,  he  had 
been.  When  the  chief  duty  of  a  trustee  was  to  carry  a  sur- 
veyor's chain  around  the  old  fields  in  Mecklenburg  County  to 
stake  out  the  campus  of  a  college  he  felt  himself  sufficiently 
endowed  by  nature  and  grace  for  a  duty  of  that  sort ;  but  when 
they  called  on  him  to  sign  his  name  to  a  Latin  diploma  he 
felt  that  common  honesty  compelled  him  to  resign  his  trustee- 
ship. He  was  a  great  man ;  a  small  ignoramus  would  have 
kept  on  signing  diplomas. 

My  next  point  of  interest  was  the  city  of  Raleigh,  the  capi- 
tal of  the  State.  This  I  reached  in  November,  1841,  to  at- 
tend the  session  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference,  to  which 
I  intended  to  transfer  my  membership  from  the  New  Jersey 
Conference.  Here  was  the  seat  of  the  North  Carolina  Bible 
Society,  whose  president  was  at  that  time  the  venerable  Dun- 
can Cameron,  a  wealthy  Scotchman,  an  Episcopalian,  and 
president  of  the  State  Bank.  My  position  as  general  agent  of 
the  American  Bible  Society  for  the  whole  State  brought  me  to 
the  acquaintance  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  several  de- 
nominations, and  made  me  a  subject  of  great  interest  to  the 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED  11 


North  Carolina  Conference,  which  body  of  ministers  received 
me  with  very  great  cordiahty.  The  impression  which  I  had 
made  upon  the  three  leading  men  of  the  conference  seems  to 
have  been  most  favorable.  The  impression  upon  gentlemen 
of  other  denominations  charged  with  the  interest  of  the  Bible 
Society  seemed  also  to  have  been  not  unpleasant,  although  on 
both  sides  I  met  at  first  with  that  expression  of  surprise  and, 
as  I  interpreted  it,  slight  disgust  that  the  American  Bible  So- 
ciety should  have  selected  such  a  stripling  for  such  a  work ;  it 
seemed  to  throw  contempt  upon  the  venerable  commonwealth 
of  North  Carolina.  I  can  now  see  just  how  those  gentlemen 
must  have  felt,  but  the  effect  upon  me  at  the  time  was  provo- 
cative ;  it  put  me  on  my  mettle,  and  I  was  determined  to  work 
day  and  night  in  such  a  fashion  as  to  echpse  all  that  my  large 
and  aged  predecessors  had  ever  done  in  the  work  of  collect- 
ing money  for  the  parent  society  and  supplying  the  State  with 
copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  It  so  happened  that  in  the 
Methodist  church,  a  night  or  two  after  the  conference  opened, 
I  was  called  upon  to  lead  in  prayer,  and  that  prayer  seemed 
to  have  produced  a  considerable  impression  upon  the  preachers 
who  were  present.  On  Sunday  I  was  invited  to  preach  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  the  pastor  of  which  was  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Drury  Lacey,  afterward  president  of  Davidson  College,  the 
Presbyterian  institution  in  the  State,  and  to  the  day  of  his 
death  my  warm,  consistent  friend.  Here  again  I  seemed  to 
have  been  divinely  aided,  and  the  sermon  that  day  was  a  turn- 
ing-point in  my  life.  At  that  time  the  Hon.  David  L.  Swain, 
who  had  been  on  the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court  and  also 
governor  of  the  State,  was  president  of  the  university  of  the 
State,  at  Chapel  Hill.  He  had  married  Eleanor  White,  a 
granddaughter  of  Richard  Caswell,  one  of  the  early  governors 
of  the  State,  whose  venerable  mother  was  still  alive  and  resid- 
ing in  an  old-fashioned  mansion  on  a  place  occupying  a  whole 
square  in  the  city,    Her  husband  had  been  Secretary  of  State. 


78 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


The  Whites  were  Methodists.  Mrs.  White's  lovely  young 
granddaughter,  Miss  Felton,  had  just  married  the  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Wadsworth,  of  the  Virginia  Conference,  and  I  had  met 
them  in  Richmond  as  I  came  through.  Governor  Swain  was 
on  a  visit  to  his  wife's  mother.  He  was  an  energetic  man  of 
great  abihty  and  far-reaching  policy  and  of  tireless  ambition ; 
these  quahties  were  united  with  a  high  moral  sense,  generous 
disposition,  and  a  keen  sense  of  honor.  He  was  one  of  the 
homeliest  men  in  North  Carolina;  very  tall,  angular,  with  a 
narrow,  towering  head  and  keen  gray  eyes.  He  had  an 
only  son,  whose  baptismal  name  was  Richard,  but  who  had 
inherited  his  father's  nickname  of  "  Bunk"  Swain,  Gover- 
nor Swain  being  thus  familiarly  known  because  he  was  born 
in  Buncombe  County  and  had  represented  that  county  in  the 
State  legislature.  Little  Bunk  happened  to  hear  me  preach  in 
the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  he  had  come  with  his  aunt. 
They  both  went  home  with  such  glowing  accounts  of  "  the  lit- 
tle boy  what  preached,"  as  Bunk  described  me,  that  he  drove 
his  father  into  coming  to  see  me  and  into  bringing  Bunk  with 
him.  Now  it  came  to  pass  that  at  that  time  Governor  Swain 
was  exceedingly  anxious  to  have  a  Methodist  professor  in  the 
university.  My  age  and  size  were  much  against  me,  as  I 
afterward  learned,  but  the  governor  became  interested  in  me  ; 
I  was  invited  several  times  to  dine  or  take  tea  at  the  White 
residence,  and  the  governor  had  an  opportunity  to  hear  me 
preach  again.  Before  we  parted  a  pledge  was  taken  that  I 
should  visit  the  university  on  my  mission  in  the  course  of  the 
spring. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  conference  which  met  in 
Raleigh,  I  went  to  Fayetteville,  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Cameron,  to  look  after  a  lawsuit  in  which  the  American  Bible 
Society  was  interested,  and  which  I  succeeded  in  bringing  to 
a  satisfactory  conclusion.    After  that  I  passed  up  into  the 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED  79 

center  of  the  State  and  recollect  very  distinctly  that  I  attained 
my  majority  in  a  little  town  in  Chatham  County  called  Hay- 
wood. I  spent  the  remainder  of  the  spring  diligently  work- 
ing at  my  agency,  visiting  and  preaching,  and  becoming 
acquainted  with  prominent  clergymen  and  laymen  of  all  de- 
nominations, one  of  my  visits  being  to  the  seat  of  the  uni- 
versity, where  I  could  not  have  made  an  unfavorable  impres- 
sion, as  the  trustees  of  that  institution  the  following  summer 
elected  me  to  ihe  professorship  of  logic  and  rhetoric.  This 
occurred  while  I  was  on  a  visit  to  the  North,  for  a  change  of 
occupation  and  for  some  rest,  which  I  really  needed,  for  I 
had  worked  almost  incessantly.  In  the  month  of  March  I 
went  to  the  town  of  Newbem.  The  Methodist  pastors  at  that 
time  were  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  E.  Edwards,  now  (1887)  living, 
having  ever  since  continued  in  the  active  pastorate,  and  an 
associate,  the  Rev.  John  Todd  Brame,  a  young  man  of  very 
fine  intellect,  who  had  been  graduated  with  considerable  hon- 
ors at  Randolph-Macon  College.  I  was  engaged  to  preach 
every  day  for  a  week.  Full  of  zeal,  I  went  at  it  with  all  my 
might,  preaching  twenty-eight  times  in  twenty-six  days,  hold- 
ing prayer-meetings,  assisting  in  pastoral  visiting,  and  enjoying 
the  hospitalities  of  a  town  so  refined  that  at  that  time  it  was 
called  the  Athens  of  Carohna.  All  this  told  upon  me.  It 
was  while  I  was  on  a  visit  to  Saratoga  that  I  received  the 
notification  of  my  election  to  the  North  Carolina  professor- 
ship. I  submitted  it  to  my  friend  Dr.  Janes,  who,  while 
greatly  praising  me  for  my  success  in  the  agency  of  the  soci- 
ety, advised  me  to  accept  the  professorship.  So  also  did  Miss 
Disosway's  father.  I  think  it  was  a  gratification  to  him,  and 
I  felt  that  it  was  a  feather  in  my  cap  to  ask  his  advice  about 
accepting  such  an  elevation  as  that.  When  I  first  told  him  I 
wanted  his  daughter  he  burst  into  tears  and  said,  "  I  can  offer 
no  objection  to  you  at  all,  but  I  don't  want  to  see  Anna  a 


80 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


widow  after  being  the  wife  of  a  poor  Methodist  preacher  three 
years" — a  hmit  which  I  now  think  my  appearance  justified 
him  in  making.  So  I  accepted  the  professorship,  upon  which 
I  entered  in  January,  1843,  being  at  that  time  a  httle  over 
twenty-two  years  of  age. 

[The  editors  would  insert  at  this  point  the  following  article, 
which  appeared  in  the  "  Raleigh  Christian  Advocate  "  in  July, 
1885:] 

"a  poem  with  a  history 

"  Forty-three  years  ago  Dr.  Deems  preached  a  sermon  in 
Raleigh,  after  the  hearing  of  which  Ex-Governor  W.  W. 
Holden  wrote  a  little  poem,  the  history  of  which  our  readers 
will  appreciate,  and  will  find  in  the  following  letter  from  Dr. 
Deems  to  Governor  Holden,  which  we  publish,  together  with 
the  poem  referred  to : 

"  '  New  York,  July  13,  1885. 

"  '  Hon.  W.  W.  Holden. 

"  '  My  dear  Sir  :  Yesterday  I  found  in  an  old  tin  box  an 
old  album,  in  which  were  many  things  pertaining  to  the  tran- 
sition time  of  my  passing  from  my  "  teens,"  among  them  this 
poem.  It  has  occurred  to  me  that  perhaps  you  and  your 
children  would  be  pleased  to  have  the  original  scrap  cut  by 
me  from  the  "  Standard  "  nearly  forty-three  years  ago  (!!!), 
when  the  reading  of  it  almost  took  my  breath  away. 

"  '  In  the  album  from  which  it  is  cut  there  is  a  memoran- 
dum, stating  my  suspicion  that  it  was  written  by  you  "the 
day  after  I  had  preached  upon  the  soul's  paradise  state  be- 
tween death  and  the  resurrection." 

"  '  With  best  wishes, 

"  '  Very  truly  yours, 

'"Charles  F.  Deems.' 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


81 


"  '  For  the  North  Carolina  Standard. 

"  '  TO  THE  REV.   C.   F.  DEEMS 

"  '  It  is  a  startling  and  a  glorious  thing 
To  gaze  on  genius  in  its  hour  of  might, 
To  hear  the  rushing  of  its  flaming  wings, 
To  mark  its  eye  as  upward  through  the  range 
Of  the  bright  worlds  of  thought  it  sends  its  glance 
Amid  the  splendors  of  the  spirit-land. 

"  '  Speaker  of  God  !  thy  work  is  great  indeed, 
And  thou  dost  gird  thyself  unto  the  task 
With  all  the  strength  of  deep  humility, 
Till  thy  "  boy-spirit,"  gathering  in  its  course 
The  power  of  angels,  sweeps  untremulous 
O'er  all  time's  wrecks,  from  Adam's  paradise 
To  that  far  land,  shrouded  in  mystery 
Beneath  God's  throne,  and  from  whose  radiant  shores 
Ascend  the  anthems  of  the  waiting  throng 
In  thrilling  numbers  to  the  gates  of  heaven. 

"  '  And  what  to  thee 
Is  all  earth's  pageantry,  the  bannered  pomp 
Of  glittering  legions?    What  the  clarion's  tone 
Rousing  to  battle?    What  the  rending  shout 
Of  the  strong  multitudes  that  pave  the  path 
Of  mad  ambition?    What  the  laurel  wreath 
Which  blooms  forever  on  the  poet's  brow? 
Thine  is  a  holier  mission  than  the  earth, 
Robed  as  it  is  in  beauty,  ever  gave ; 
And  thine  an  honor  which  the  worlds  shall  see 
In  the  great  judgment-hour,  when  all  the  stars 
Which  thou  hast  plucked  from  out  the  night  of  sin 
Shall  flash  their  glories,  fresh  and  beautiful 
And  all  undarkened,  from  thy  crown  of  life. 

•"H. 

"  '  Raleigh,  September  5,  1842."' 

When  I  look  back  at  the  period  of  my  life  when  I  accepted 
the  call  to  the  university,  it  seems  to  me  unaccountable.  I 


82 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


have  always  been  afflicted  with  a  large  measure  of  self-distrust, 
which  has  been  strangely  mingled  with  a  sort  of  obstinate  au- 
dacity. When  challenged  to  perform  any  public  duty  I  have 
invariably  shrunk  from  it  in  my  feelings  and  yet  have  under- 
taken it  by  sheer  force  of  my  will.  That  at  such  an  age,  with 
so  little  acquirement,  I  should  go  into  a  faculty  of  men  of 
ability  and  experience  now  seems  to  me  to  be  the  most  ridic- 
ulous action  of  my  life ;  but  I  had  determined  to  undertake  it, 
and  so  I  fell  to  work  in  the  few  intervening  months  to  qualify 
myself  for  it  as  well  as  I  could. 

For  years  the  chair  of  rhetoric  and  logic  had  been  occupied 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Mercer  Green,  an  Episcopal  clergy- 
man, reared  in  Wilmington,  well  connected  and  well  known, 
a  gentleman  and  a  scholar— especially  a  gentleman— a  gentle- 
man of  very  suave  and  pleasing  manners.  The  duties  of  the 
chair  were  divided  and  the  harder  portion  assigned  to  me.  I 
had  to  take  the  department  of  logic,  but  also  assisted  in  the 
department  of  rhetoric,  in  the  correction  of  compositions,  and 
in  the  teaching  of  elocution.  Before  my  advent  the  only  book 
on  logic  used  in  the  university  was  that  most  absurd  and  con- 
temptible little  treatise  by  Professor  Hedge,  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, a  book  bearing  the  title  of  logic,  with  every  essential 
thing  belonging  to  logic  left  out.  I  adopted  Whately's  treatise 
and  commenced  with  the  junior  class,  in  which  there  was  not 
a  single  student  who  could  not  have  taken  me  by  the  nape  of 
the  neck  and  put  me  out  of  the  window,  and  I  managed  to 
make  work  for  the  class ;  so  much  so  that  they  complained  to 
the  president  that  this  young  professor  was  making  the  de- 
partment of  logic  absolutely  more  difficult  than  the  department 
of  mathematics.  The  professor  of  mathematics  was  Professor 
James  Phillips,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  who  had  had  experi- 
ence as  a  teacher  in  New  York  City  before  coming  to  the 
university.  He  was  a  man  of  very  considerable  ability.  The 
salaries  of  the  professors  were  not  large,  and  Professor  Phillips 


PROFESSIOXAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


83 


eked  out  the  support  of  his  family  by  preaching  at  a  country 
church.  I  always  liked  to  hear  him  preach  and  had  great  re- 
spect for  his  brains  and  acquirements,  but  have  suspected  that 
his  son,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Phillips,  who  afterward  came  to 
the  chair  in  the  university,  was  the  better  teacher.  Professor 
Phillips  was  fortunate  in  his  children,  one  of  whom  (Mrs. 
Cornelia  Spencer)*  has  made  many  contributions  to  current 
literature,  especially  in  the  religious  papers  of  her  own  church, 
and  wrote  a  book  called  "  The  Last  Ninety  Days  of  the  War," 
which  I  published  in  1866,  the  first  year  of  my  residence  in 
New  York.  The  elder  of  his  two  sons  is  the  professor  to 
whom  I  have  alluded,  and  the  younger,  Mr.  Samuel  Phillips, 
has  been  solicitor-general  of  the  United  States. 

The  senior  professor  was  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell,  who  had 
been  brought  from  Yale  College  to  the  university.  He  had 
devoted  himself  to  science,  had  trodden  almost  every  cow-path 
in  the  State  of  North  CaroHna,  and  before  his  death  had  edu- 
cated three  generations,  grandfather,  father,  and  grandson. 
Dr.  Mitchell  was  a  man  of  commanding  appearance  and  mag- 
nificent head.  His  memory  was  like  a  tarred  board ;  every 
feather  that  dropped  on  it  seemed  to  stick.  He  spared  no 
pains  and  no  expense  to  settle  the  most  minute  questions  which 
had  sprung  up  in  his  investigations.  I  have  known  him  to 
spend  forty  dollars  to  secure  a  map  from  Europe  which  would 
settle  the  name  and  precise  location  of  some  small  village  in 
Mexico  or  South  America.  And  so  he  would  explore  die  re- 
cesses of  any  county  in  the  State  to  strive  to  find  a  piece  of 
stone  or  humble  plant,  the  existence  and  the  characteristics  of 
which  it  seemed  to  him  necessary  to  know  in  order  to  pursue 
his  studies.  It  was  in  this  pursuit  that  he  lost  his  life.  He 
was  examining  the  mountains  in  west  North  CaroHna  to  de- 
termine the  height  of  the  highest  when  he  fell  from  a  height 

*  The  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  its  commencement,  1895,  con- 
ferred the  degree  of  LL.  D.  on  Mrs.  Spencer. 


84 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


into  a  pool  of  water,  where  he  expired.  His  remains  were 
discovered,  and  great  honor  was  paid  to  his  memory  by  an 
assemblage  on  that  mountain-peak,  in  which  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  Otey,  of  Tennessee,  President  Swain,  of  the  university, 
and  other  distinguished  gentlemen  took  part.  The  professor's 
name  was  given  to  the  mountain,  which  will  hand  it  down  to 
future  generations.  Professor  Mitchell  was  a  genial  as  well 
as  a  learned  man,  a  wit  as  well  as  a  scientist ;  and  I  think  we 
all  regarded  him  at  that  time  as  the  person  who  gave  the 
greatest  reputation  to  the  institution. 

Professor  De  Berniere  Hooper,  a  descendant  of  the  North 
Carolinian  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  of  that 
name,  was  professor  of  Latin.  These  were  the  only  members 
of  the  faculty  of  any  mark.  Governor  Swain,  the  president, 
imparted  his  activity  to  the  institution  and  built  it  up  in  many 
ways.  He  survived  until  after  the  war.  I  believe  that  at  this 
writing  (June,  1887)  all  my  colleagues  are  dead. 

The  duties  appointed  me  upon  my  first  entrance  upon  the 
professorship  would  not  have  been  at  all  arduous  to  a  man 
thoroughly  prepared  for  them  ;  but  for  me,  having  had  no  time 
even  to  review  my  college  studies  on  the  subjects  which  I  was 
to  teach,  it  was  pretty  hard  work.  I  was  young  and  ambitious, 
and  threw  myself  into  it  with  all  my  might.  In  addition  to 
teaching  logic,  I  also  had  care  of  the  essays  written  by  some 
of  the  classes,  and  took  turns  in  preaching  in  the  college  chapel 
with  the  senior  professor,  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  my  colleague,  Dr. 
Green,  afterward  Bishop  of  Mississippi.  It  was  a  prodigious 
ordeal  for  a  young  fellow  who  had  no  theological  education 
and  no  practice  in  writing  sermons.  The  first  of  my  produc- 
tions in  that  line  was  made  for  the  chapel  of  the  university. 

In  addition  to  my  college  duties,  I  paid  attention  to  the 
Methodist  church  in  the  village  and  did  all  I  could  to  build 
it  up.  On  Sunday  niglit,  in  a  little  chapel  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Presbyterian  church  in  the  village,  I  took  turns  with 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


85 


the  other  professors  in  preaching.  Unrestrained  by  manu- 
script, I  turned  myself  loose  on  the  boys  and  the  villagers  in 
earnest  appeals.  The  collegians  preferred  my  crude  night 
discourses  to  my  carefully  prepared  morning  sermons,  which, 
although  written  out,  now  seem  to  me  to  be  about  as  crude  as 
any  young  man's  sermons  well  could  be. 

While  I  was  at  Chapel  Hill  there  came  a  young  publisher 
of  the  name  of  Ball,  representing  the  firm  of  Sorin  &  Ball, 
who  secured  from  me  twelve  of  my  manuscripts  and  pubhshed 
them  under  the  title  of  "  Twelve  College  Sermons." 

There  is  such  power  and  usefulness  in  ignorance.  It  does 
seem  to  me  that  the  more  we  know  the  less  we  are  willing  to 
do,  because  we  become  more  and  more  severely  critical  of 
our  own  performances.  No  twelve  sermons  that  I  have  pro- 
duced since  I  was  fifty-five  years  of  age  would  I  allow  any 
house  to  publish  now.  My  very  youth,  I  suppose,  disarmed 
criticism  in  a  measure ;  I  was  phenomenally  young  for  such  a 
position. 

In  those  early  days  salaries  in  colleges  were  not  very  ample. 
My  salary  was  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars ;  in  Chapel 
Hill,  however,  at  that  time  it  was  equal  to  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  in  New  York,  and  was  not  much  less  than  twenty-five 
hundred  dollars  probably  would  be  in  Chapel  Hill  at  this  day. 
On  that  sum  I  determined  to  marry. 

When  I  became  engaged  to  my  wife  her  father  was  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  merchants  in  New  York.  Between  our 
engagement  and  this  summer  the  disastrous  tide  which  leveled 
almost  all  houses  passed  over  New  York,  and  my  fiancee  was 
as  gloriously  poor  as  her  lover.  But  I  knew  that  in  their  most 
prosperous  days  the  Disosways  had  trained  their  children  to 
habits  of  economy,  and  that  my  little  sweetheart  especially 
was  a  woman  who  by  her  natural  disposition,  her  acquired 
habits,  and  the  grace  of  God  which  ruled  in  her  heart  would 
be  ready  to  adapt  herself  to  any  circumstances  and  help  me 


86 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


in  my  work ;  so  by  correspondence  it  was  arranged  that  in  the 
summer  vacation  we  should  marry.  Courtship  and  marriage 
did  not  take  me  away  one  single  hour  from  my  professorial 
and  ministerial  duties ;  and  now  (1887)  that  we  have  been 
married  forty-four  years  and  have  had  six  children  I  put  it  on 
record  that  my  wife  has  never  for  personal  or  domestic  con- 
siderations interfered  with  my  work  so  much  as  one  hour.  It 
seems  to  me  it  must  be  almost  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  a 
Christian  minister  that  any  man  could  say  so  much. 

Her  family  were  living  at  the  old  country-seat  in  Asbury,  in 
western  New  Jersey.  It  was  a  journey  from  Chapel  Hill  to 
that  place  in  those  days.  A  day  was  spent  in  going  by  car- 
riage from  Chapel  Hill  to  Raleigh,  then  by  a  miserable  Httle 
railroad,  consisting  of  rows  of  hewn  logs  with  strips  of  iron 
spiked  to  them,  to  Gaston,  thence  to  Petersburg,  and  so  on 
slowly  till  we  reached  Princeton.  It  took  me  a  good  part  of 
a  week  to  do  this.  At  Philadelphia  I  fell  in  with  a  presiden- 
tial party,  the  center  of  which  was  President  Tyler,  and  we 
all  drew  up  at  Princeton  on  Saturday  night  and  lay  over  Sun- 
day. I  remember  being  at  a  party  that  night  with  President 
Tyler  at  Commodore  Stockton's,  although  how  I  got  there  is 
to  me  a  mystery  to  this  day.  On  Monday  by  stage  I  reached 
my  destination.  There,  on  the  20th  of  June,  in  her  father's 
house,  I  was  married  to — well,  there  is  no  use  of  an  old  man 
making  a  fool  of  himself  by  undertaking  to  tell  what  it  was  he 
married. 

In  time  to  reach  my  duties  at  the  university,  we  started 
back,  visiting  my  friends  in  Baltimore  and  in  Raleigh.  The 
condition  of  the  railroads  in  that  day  may  be  made  to  appear 
by  the  following  incident.  While  going  from  Gaston  to  Ra- 
leigh a  rail  shot  up  through  the  floor  of  the  car  between  my 
bride  and  myself.  If  it  had  struck  the  foot  of  either  of  us  it 
would  probably  have  broken  a  limb.  What  a  road  it  must 
have  been  when  the  wheels  were  so  small  that  a  piece  of  iron 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMENCED 


87 


lying  loose  on  the  track  could  jump  a  wheel  and  strike  the 
floor  of  a  car!  What  a  curious  piece  of  iron  that  rail  must 
have  been  to  perform  such  a  feat!  What  a  slight  kind  of 
floor  that  must  have  been  that  could  be  penetrated  by  so 
slender  a  strip  of  iron!  There  was  a  joke  current  about  this 
road  at  that  period.  A  conductor  going  along  perceived  a 
wooden-legged  traveler,  and  as  he  was  lame  invited  him  to 
board  the  train  and  thus  get  a  lift  on  the  journey.  The  lame 
man  excused  himself  on  the  ground  that  he  was  in  a  hurry 
and  could  not  wait.  Nevertheless  the  accommodations  then 
were  better  than  they  had  been  a  few  years  before,  when  the 
whole  journey  was  made  by  stages.  Then  it  required  several 
weeks  and  was  full  of  perils ;  and  North  Carolina  merchants 
going  to  New  York,  or  to  Philadelphia  or  Baltimore,  as  many 
of  them  preferred,  were  accustomed  to  make  their  wills. 

Collegians  make  a  point  of  testing  every  man  who  enters 
the  faculty  of  their  institution.  The  boys  tested  me.  I  had 
put  on  no  airs  in  the  recitation-room  ;  I  had  overlooked  many 
things ;  had  gone  straight  forward,  endeavoring  to  interest 
them  in  their  studies,  creating  discussions  in  the  classes,  array- 
ing some  portion  of  a  class  against  another  in  a  logical  discus- 
sion, taking  sides  first  with  one  party  and  then  another,  some- 
times leading  my  party  to  victory  and  then  again  encountering 
a  defeat,  which  I  always  took  in  good  humor,  pointing  out  to 
the  best  of  my  ability  to  each  party  why  the  defeat  or  the  suc- 
cess came. 

A  part  of  the  discipline  of  the  university  was  that  each 
member  of  the  faculty  took  his  turn  in  making  a  nocturnal 
domiciliary  visit  to  the  rooms  of  the  students,  talking  with 
them,  helping  them  in  their  studies,  and  also  having  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  care  of  the  campus.  There  were  some 
wild,  rough  fellows  in  my  day  from  the  South  and  Southwest, 
but  they  were  not  such  dangerous  men  as  certain  boys  from 
some  of  the  older  families  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina, 


88 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


who  could  plan  and  execute  mischief  with  great  cold-blooded- 
ness. I  knew  my  time  for  trial  would  come.  It  did.  I  was 
visiting  the  room  of  one  of  the  students  on  the  first  floor  in 
the  southwest  end  of  the  east  building,  when  certain  of  the 
boys,  who  had  taken  umbrage  at  a  very  plain  sermon  I  had 
delivered  to  them  in  the  chapel,  managed  to  fasten  the  door 
so  that  there  was  no  exit  to  the  undergraduate  in  whose  room 
I  was,  nor  to  me.  I  was  the  only  professor  on  duty.  They 
commenced  stoning  the  room.  It  was  not  only  a  mischiev- 
ous, but  a  perilous  thing.  I  believe  every  window-pane  was 
smashed.  The  room  was  so  exposed  that  there  was  but  one 
part  in  which  it  was  possible  for  two  men  to  stand  without 
being  hit  if  missiles  were  sent  in  from  every  practicable  direc- 
tion, as  they  certainly  were.  After  the  first  shot  or  two,  when 
I  found  that  the  combined  strength  of  the  undergraduate  and 
myself,  who  were  prisoners,  was  unable  to  force  the  door  open, 
I  led  him  to  that  point  of  safety.  Our  assailants  had  un- 
doubtedly calculated  that  we  would  go  under  the  bed  when 
they  had  searched  the  corner  with  small  stones.  I  calculated 
as  much  and  gave  that  bed  a  wide  berth.  It  was  fortunate, 
as  they  were  drinking  and  singing  and  exciting  themselves  in 
their  attack.  Suddenly  there  came  through  the  window  a 
stone  so  big  and  so  aimed  that  it  fell  in  the  center  of  the  bed 
and  broke  it  down  to  the  floor.  We  were  in  our  corner,  how- 
ever, conversing  together  until  the  storm  blew  over.  It  was 
a  long  time,  probably  two  hours  ;  it  seemed  to  us  much  longer. 
At  last  a  tutor  coming  by  discovered  the  state  of  affairs  and 
opened  the  door.  The  undergraduate  found  another  lodging, 
for  the  room  was  wrecked  and  piled  with  stones ;  and  I  went 
back  to  my  little  wife,  to  whom  I  said  nothing  about  the  mat- 
ter, as  I  determined  never  to  allude  to  it  in  the  college. 

The  boys  had  tried  my  pluck  once  or  twice  before,  and 
found  that  I  was  not  scared  by  having  a  pistol  pointed  at  me 
and  that  I  simply  did  my  duty. 


PROFESSIONAL  LIFE  COMMEXCED 


89 


Next  morning  I  went  regularly  to  my  class  with  just  the 
same  appearance,  I  suppose,  I  had  any  other  morning.  But 
Governor  Swain,  the  president  of  the  university,  had  been  told 
the  matter  by  the  tutor  and  was  in  a  state  of  great  exasperation. 
I  had  become  his  pet,  and  he  was  proud  of  me  and  could  not 
bear  to  have  any  slight  or  disrespect  shown  me.  He  felt  as 
if  the  older  professors  could  take  care  of  themselves,  but  as  he 
had  induced  me  to  come  to  the  university,  he  was  pledged  to 
give  me  special  presidential  support.  The  trustees  were  called 
together.  One  of  the  sons  of  one  of  the  prominent  members 
thereof,  of  very  distinguished  family,  was  in  the  row,  and  quite 
a  number  of  the  boys  were  sentenced  to  rustication. 

I  went  before  the  board  and  pleaded  that  the  sentence 
should  not  be  executed  ;  that  I  believed  it  was  a  proper  one 
and  necessary  for  the  discipline  of  the  college,  but,  the  disci- 
pline being  vindicated,  I  had  no  animosity  against  these  young 
men,  and  felt  that  it  was  merely  a  foolish  college  freak.  I 
succeeded  in  saving  them  ;  and  from  that  day  on  each  man  in 
that  outbreak  was  my  friend.  Moreover,  during  the  remain- 
ing years  of  my  stay  at  the  university  I  never  had  a  disagree- 
able encounter  with  a  student.  My  first  year  made  them  be- 
lieve that  I  was  true,  courageous,  and  unvindictive ;  that  if  I 
was  not  a  great  man,  I  was  greatly  addicted  to  doing  my 
duty ;  and  I  have  no  better  friends  than  the  Chapel  Hill  boys 
of  that  period. 


PART  II 

MEMOIR 


THE  YEARS 


The  years  that  come  to  us  are  dumb, 

Their  footsteps  rhythmic,  low  ; 
We  hear  not  as  they  swiftly  come 

And  yet  more  swiftly  go. 

Each  brings  us  something  we  must  keep, 

And  each  doth  something  take ; 
Thus  we  are  changing  while  we  sleep. 

And  changing  while  we  wake. 

From  "  My  Septuagint." 


CHAPTER  I 


TEACHING  AND  PREACHING,  1844-50 

THE  five  years  of  Professor  Deems's  life  in  Chapel  Hill  as 
a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina were,  indeed,  marked  by  perfect  good  will  between  the 
students  and  himself,  as  well  as  between  his  colleagues  and 
himself.  His  home  and  social  life,  too,  was  such  that  he 
ever  afterward  looked  back  upon  that  period  with  pleasure  al- 
most unalloyed.  It  was  here  that,  on  May  27,  1844,  his  first 
child,  a  son,  was  born,  to  whom  was  given  the  name  Theo- 
dore Disosway  Deems.  On  December  18,  1846,  another  son, 
Francis  Melville  Deems,  was  bom. 

Among  the  members  of  the  faculty  none  secured  a  larger 
place  in  the  heart  of  Professor  Deems  than  President  Swain, 
as  has  been  seen  from  the  reference  to  him  in  the  autobio- 
graphical notes.  This  high  esteem  was  never  lowered  by  time ; 
for  on  May  13,  1869,  in  the  course  of  an  address  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  fifty-third  anniversary  of  the  American  Bible 
Society,  in  the  Lafayette  Place  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  New 
York  City,  Dr.  Deems  said :  "  On  this  program  you  have  an 
announcement  of  the  death  of  one  of  our  vice-presidents,  the 
Hon.  David  L.  Swain,  of  North  Carolina.  He  was  my  in- 
timate friend,  and  his  death  is  to  me  a  severe  personal  be- 
reavement. That  great  and  good  man,  judge,  governor, 
president  of  the  university,  has  accompanied  me  to  the  cabins 


94 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


of  sick  servants,  and  sat  reverently  while  I  read  to  them  the 
Word  of  God,  and  knelt  humbly  on  the  sanded  floor  w  hile  I 
prayed.  That  was  in  the  days  of  master  and  servant.  The 
first  time  I  saw  him  after  the  war  he  came  into  a  yard  where, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  a  little  colored  child,  I  was 
preaching  to  an  assembly  of  freedmen,  and  then  he  spoke 
words  of  comfort  to  the  bereaved  mother,  and  walked  with 
them  to  the  graveyard,  where  we  buried  the  child  amid  the 
solemn  services  of  the  church." 

The  five  years  at  Chapel  Hill,  from  1842  to  1847,  were  not 
only  happy,  but  also  busy  and  significant  years.  Professor 
Deems  toiled  incessantly,  laboriously,  and  fruitfully.  As  a 
natural  consequence  his  reputation  as  a  teacher  and  preacher 
of  unusual  ability  went  abroad.  So  it  is  not  strange  that  the 
authorities  of  Randolph- Macon  College,  a  Methodist  institu- 
tion, then  at  Boydton,  Va.,  had  their  attention  attracted  to  him. 
By  invitation  he  delivered  an  address  at  Randolph-Macon  at 
the  commencement  exercises  of  the  class  of  1847.  I"  ^  let- 
ter to  the  Rev.  Edward  M.  Deems,  from  Mr.  Richard  Irby, 
the  present  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  college,  whose  per- 
sonal recollections  of  the  institution  go  back  to  1839,  that  gentle- 
man says :  "  I  recollect  very  well  his  [Professor  Deems's]  speech 
at  the  old  college,  and  had  a  copy  of  it  in  my  collection,  but 
unfortunately  that,  with  many  other  such  things,  has  been  lost 
in  my  moving  to  and  fro.  The  first  time  your  father  visited 
the  old  college  he  took  part  in  a  debate  in  the  Washington 
Hall.  A  young  '  limb  of  the  law '  took  occasion  to  quote  os- 
tentatiously legal  authority  to  sustain  his  argument ;  but  your 
father  showed  he  knew  more  about  Coke  and  Littleton  than 
the  young  lawyer  himself,  and  floored  him,  much  to  the 
amusement  of  the  audience." 

This  visit  led  the  authorities  to  call  Professor  Deems  to  the 
chair  of  natural  science.  Had  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina been  a  Methodist  institution  this  call  would  doubtless 


TEACHING  AND  PREACHING 


95 


have  been  declined,  but  Professor  Deems  had  this  one  draw- 
back to  his  happiness,  the  impression  that  he  was  not  as  use- 
ful to  his  church  as  he  might  be.  Perhaps  in  that  idea  he 
was  mistaken,  but  he  himself  used  to  say,  in  reference  to  this 
matter,  "  The  impression  was  deepened  by  the  frequent  appeals 
of  certain  brethren  in  behalf  of  denominational  posts,  and 
especially  by  the  repeated  efforts  of  the  friends  of  Randolph- 
Macon  College  to  draw  me  to  that  institution." 

Randolph- Macon  College  was  founded  by  the  Methodist 
Cliurch  in  1830,  was  opened  at  Boydton,  Va.,  in  1832,  and 
moved  in  1868  to  its  present  site  in  Ashland,  Va.  It  is  the 
oldest  Methodist  college  in  the  United  States,  its  charter  hav- 
ing been  granted  by  the  legislature  of  Virginia  at  its  1829-30 
session.  The  idea  of  the  college  was  bom  as  early  as  1828, 
in  the  mind  of  a  layman,  Gabriel  P.  Disosway,  who  received 
aid  in  crystallizing  and  realizing  it  from  the  Rev.  Hezekiah  G. 
Leigh,  the  Rev.  John  Early  (afterward  bishop),  and  other  prom- 
inent Methodist  ministers  and  laymen.  Mr.  Disosway  was  at 
that  time  living  in  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  was  a  brother  of  Is- 
rael D.  Disosway,  whose  daughter  became  Professor  Deems's 
wife. 

Randolph-Macon  College  was  in  1846  the  joint  property  of 
the  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  conferences.  Professor  Deems 
was  then  a  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference.  In 
1846  the  Rev.  William  A.  Smith,  D.D.,  was  elected  president, 
and  Professor  Deems  was  invited  to  take  a  chair  in  the  faculty. 
The  question  of  the  wisdom  of  so  doing  he  submitted  to  a 
number  of  his  ministerial  brethren,  some  of  whom  urged  him 
to  accept  and  others  to  decline  the  invitation.  After  much 
thought  he  decided  that  it  was  his  duty  to  accept.  And  so  in 
December,  1847,  he  took  his  wife  and  his  two  boys,  Theodore 
and  Frank,  and  moved  to  Boydton,  Mecklenburg  County,  Va., 
aboutone  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  southwest  of  Richmond. 

The  travelers  reached  their  new  home  in  midwinter,  the 


96 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


ground  being  covered  with  snow.  Boydton  naturally  ap- 
peared at  its  worst.  It  was  a  very  small  place,  and  remote 
from  the  railroad.  The  cottage  into  which  Professor  Deems 
moved  was  in  a  grove  somewhat  apart  from  other  dwelling- 
houses,  and  at  first  the  new-comers  were  very  lonely,  the  soli- 
tude of  their  surroundings  being  intensified  in  the  spring  and 
summer  evenings  by  the  weird  call  of  the  whippoorwill,  who 
seemed  to  find  in  Boydton  a  congenial  atmosphere. 

In  January,  1848,  Professor  Deems  entered  upon  his  labors 
in  the  department  of  chemistry,  commencing  his  course  of 
lectures  on  January  24th.  This  he  did  with  an  inadequate 
equipment  for  his  laboratory,  and  with  no  special  training  or 
knowledge  of  the  science  which  he  was  to  teach.  In  view  of 
these  facts  we  have  brought  out  at  this  time  that  ambition, 
boldness,  and  faith  in  divine  help  which  ever  marked  his  char- 
acter and  conduct.  One  of  the  rules  of  his  life  was  to  leap 
into  any  work  to  which  he  was  called  by  Providence,  and  then 
work  or  fight  his  way  out.  He  rarely  failed,  although  at  times 
he  found  himself  in  desperate  straits.  As  professor  of  chem- 
istry at  Randolph-Macon  he  had  in  his  class,  as  he  often  said, 
some  pupils  who  knew  more  about  tlie  subject  than  he  did; 
although  he  did  not  let  the  young  men  find  that  out,  for,  as 
he  used  to  say,  laughingly,  he  kept  at  least  one  lesson  ahead 
of  his  class,  rising  often  before  day  to  prepare  himself,  and 
when  he  lacked  minute  knowledge  of  the  subject  in  hand  he 
performed  so  many  and  such  brilliant  experiments  that  his 
young  men  found  no  time  nor  disposition  to  ask  embarrassing 
questions. 

Among  the  members  of  the  faculty  Professor  David  Dun- 
can, whose  son,  the  Rev.  James  Duncan,  D.D.,  became  one  of 
the  Southern  Methodist  bishops,  was  probably  his  most  intimate 
friend.  But  Professor  Deems  formed  other  warm  friendships 
among  his  colleagues  and  among  tlie  students.  Upon  the 
whole,  however,  the  one  year  of  life  at  Boydton  had  in  it  more 


TEACHING  AND  PREACHING 


97 


clouds  than  sunshine.  In  a  certain  place  Professor  Deems 
writes :  "  The  year  1848  covers  my  professorship  at  Randolph- 
Macon.  It  was  a  bitter  year.  The  failure  of  a  Northern 
firm  stripped  me  of  what  little  I  had  saved  at  the  University 
of  North  Carolina.  I  immediately  projected  the  '  Southern 
Methodist  Pulpit,'  a  periodical  intended  to  assist  me.  The 
prospectus  was  concocted  and  written  in  Richmond,  and  ap- 
peared in  the  '  Richmond  Christian  Advocate '  of  December 
29,  1847." 

The  "  Southern  Methodist  Pulpit "  was  published  monthly, 
and  was  maintained  for  four  years,  the  bound  numbers  mak- 
ing four  stately  volumes,  and  containing  much  interesting  and 
valuable  matter. 

Naturally  Professor  Deems's  time  was  closely  occupied  by 
the  preparation  of  his  lectures,  but  he  managed  to  find  time 
enough  to  write  quite  frequently  for  the  periodicals  of  the  day, 
especially  the  "  Richmond  Christian  Advocate." 

He  found  living  at  Boydton  an  aged  Methodist  minister, 
the  Rev.  Hezekiah  G.  Leigh,  who  owned  a  number  of  slaves. 
From  him  he  hired  as  cook  Lucinda,  a  negro  woman  about 
fifty  years  of  age.  She  was  an  earnest  Christian,  possessing 
most  of  the  good  traits  while  free  from  most  of  the  bad  quali- 
ties of  the  Southern  slave.  The  family  became  warmly  at- 
tached to  good  old  "  Aunt  Lucinda,"  and  their  affection  was 
heartily  reciprocated ;  so  much  so  that  when,  at  the  close  of 
1848,  Professor  Deems  told  her  that  they  must  part,  as  he 
was  going  to  move  away,  she  protested  violently.  "  No,  sir," 
said  she,  "  I  will  never  leave  you.  You've  got  to  buy  me. 
If  you  don't  buy  me  I  will  run  away  and  follow  you!"  So 
Professor  Deems  had  a  slave  thrust  upon  him,  as  it  were.  He 
paid  Mr.  Leigh  about  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  good 
woman,  and  until  her  death  at  Greensboro  a  few  years  later 
he  did  all  he  could  to  make  her  lot  a  comfortable  one,  and 
she  served  him  with  untiring  industry  and  sleepless  fidelity. 


98 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


While  never  a  rabid  pro-slavery  man,  Professor  Deems 
nevertheless  conscientiously  accepted  negro  slavery  as  a  part 
of  God's  providential  dealings  with  our  race,  finding  in  the 
Word  of  God  provision  made  for  the  righteous  attitude  of  the 
slave  toward  his  master  and  the  master  toward  his  slave. 
Wherever  he  lived  in  the  South  he  won  the  hearts  of  the  ne- 
groes by  his  sympathy  and  self-denying  efforts  to  provide  them 
with  the  gospel  of  their  Lord  and  Saviour. 

In  less  than  a  year  after  arriving  at  Randolph-Macon  Col- 
lege he  began,  on  various  accounts,  to  feel  that  he  was  not 
exactly  where  he  could  best  serve  the  church  and  the  Master. 
He  therefore  finally  decided  to  resign  his  professorship,  and, 
yielding  to  the  pressure  brought  to  bear  on  him  to  enter  the 
itinerancy,  he  became  pastor  at  Newbern,  N.  C.,  where  he  had 
won  many  friends  years  before  as  the  "  boy-preacher." 

Professor  Deems's  resignation  did  not  mean  the  end  of  his 
interest  in  Randolph-Macon  College,  for  he  ever  afterward 
cherished  toward  it  a  warm  feeling  of  interest.  Nor  was  this 
a  mere  sentiment,  but  a  practical  thing,  for  he  twice  delivered 
the  annual  address,  once  before  the  war  and  once  after.  He 
aided  the  presidents  in  their  efforts  to  secure  in  New  York 
subscriptions  for  the  college,  besides  giving  liberally  himself. 
He  sent  the  library  several  of  his  books,  and  but  a  short  time 
before  his  death  aided  the  professor  of  physics  and  biology  to 
furnish  his  laboratory.  He  also,  by  request,  sent  his  portrait, 
which  is  now  on  the  wall  of  the  library,  surrounded  by  a  num- 
ber of  others,  whose  originals  he  was  associated  with  in  former 
days. 

But  his  resignation  in  1 848  was  made  in  good  faith,  and  was 
soon  followed  by  his  departure  from  Boydton.  Again  packing 
his  household  goods,  he  and  his  family,  after  another  mid- 
winter journey  of  about  two  hundred  miles,  found  a  home  in 
the  parsonage  of  the  Methodist  church  at  Newbern,  N.  C. 
Here  he  continued  his  work  on  the  "  Southern  Methodist  Pul- 


TEACHING  AND  PREACHING 


99 


I)it,"  but  gave  most  of  his  time  and  toil  to  his  pulpit  and  pas- 
toral work.  Although  only  twenty-nine  years  old,  and  although 
most  of  his  experience  had  been  in  educational  work,  yet  at 
Newbern,  both  as  pastor  and  preacher,  he  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful. The  church  was  in  every  way  greatly  strengthened 
by  the  efforts  of  the  earnest,  industrious,  and  eloquent  young 
pastor. 

From  a  letter  of  a  friend  who  hved  in  Newbern  and  was  a 
parishioner  of  Mr.  Deems  when  he  was  pastor  there  is  culled 
the  following  interesting  extract :  "  I  wish  I  could  write  of 
his  beautiful  hfe  and  work  in  Newbern.  As  you  probably 
know,  he  went  there  first  in  1842  as  agent  for  the  American 
Bible  Society.  In  a  protracted  meeting  at  that  time  he 
preached  a  powerful  sermon  from  Judges  v.  23 :  '  Curse  ye 
Meroz,  said  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  curse  ye  bitterly  the  in- 
habitants thereof;  because  they  came  not  to  the  help  of  the 
Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty.'  This  gave 
great  offense,  but  by  it  the  wrath  of  man  was  made  to  praise 
Cod.  Hundreds  flocked  to  hear  the  bold  young  preacher, 
and  I  think  the  protracted  meeting  resulted  in  over  one  hun- 
dred conversions.  I  once  went  with  him  to  a  Thursday  after- 
noon appointment  in  the  country.  For  some  good  reason 
there  were  only  three  persons,  besides  myself,  in  the  congrega- 
tion. Instead  of  dismissing  us  with  a  short  service,  he  preached 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  sermons  I  ever  listened  to  from 
mortal  lips.  As  we  left  the  church  I  remarked  upon  it,  and 
he  said,  'Yes,  that  congregation  was  an  inspiration!'  He 
knew  they  had  made  great  sacrifices  to  come  to  church,  and 
he  preached  his  very  best  for  them.  Great  good  resulted 
from  it." 

The  home  circle  in  the  Methodist  parsonage  at  Newbern 
during  1849  a  very  happy  one.  Mrs.  Deems's  good 
mother,  Mrs.  Letitia  Disosway,  at  this  time  spent  several 
months  with  her  daughter's  family.    It  was  in  Newbern  that 


100 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Mr.  Deems's  third  child  was  born,  and  named  Mary  Letitia. 
With  that  playfulness  of  nature  which  ever  characterized  him, 
and  with  reference  to  a  certain  nasal  conformation  of  his  little 
daughter,  he  immediately  dubbed  her  "  Little  Cambric  Needle 
Nose,"  as  he  had  called  his  little  son  Theodore  "  Theodoric 
the  Goth,"  or  "  Ollie  de  Gok,"  as  the  little  one  himself  put  it, 
in  his  vain  effort  to  echo  his  father's  words.  The  only  cloud 
which  flecked  Mr.  Deems's  sky  at  Newbern  was  the  fact  that 
his  physical  powers  were  unable  to  keep  pace  with  those  of 
his  mind,  compelling  him  for  a  time  to  recuperate  at  Beaufort 
on  the  seashore. 

While  a  pastor  at  Newbern  Mr.  Deems  was  elected  by  the 
North  Carolina  Conference  as  one  of  the  delegates  to  the 
General  Conference,  which  met  at  St.  Louis  on  May  i,  1850. 
On  his  way  to  the  St.  Louis  Conference  Mr.  Deems  first  met 
the  Rev.  Hubbard  H.  Kavanaugh,  afterward  made  a  bishop, 
and  always  a  valued  friend.  In  April,  1884,  he  sent  to  the  Rev. 
A.  H.  Redford,  D.D.,  who  was  writing  a  life  of  the  bishop,  a 
paper,  portions  of  which  are  inserted  at  this  point  because 
touching  on  several  points  of  interest  to  the  readers  of  this 
memoir. 

"some  recollections  of  bishop  kavanaugh 

"In  May  of  1850  I  first  saw  Hubbard  H.  Kavanaugh.  I 
was  then  a  Methodist  minister.  The  delegation  from  the  North 
Carolina  Annual  Conference,  of  which  I  was  a  member,  was 
on  its  way  to  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South,  to  be  held  in  St.  Louis.  The  two 
youngest  members  elect  were,  I  believe,  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Red- 
ford,  of  Kentucky,  and  the  writer  of  these  recollections,  who 
was  twenty-nine  years  of  age.  Our  delegation  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati by  the  river.  When  the  steamer  drew  up  to  the  levee 
there  were  several  ministers  waiting  for  us.  Being  young  I 
remained  on  the  hurricane-deck  and  saw  the  landing  of  some 


TEACHING  AND  PREACHING 


101 


of  the  older  members  of  the  Virginia  delegation,  who  had 
joined  us  en  route.  While  the  fastening  of  our  steamer  was 
going  on  I  studied  the  faces  on  shore.  There  stood  in  the 
group  one  whom  I  had  never  seen.  He  made  a  great  im- 
pression on  me.  He  was  a  short,  square,  muscular  man,  large 
for  his  height,  without  superabundant  flesh,  ruddy  without 
being  florid,  with  a  pertnanent  look,  and  made  to  stay.  In  his 
eye  there  was  a  tremble  of  innocent  fun,  and  when  he  laughed 
heartily  he  shook  all  over  like  a  well-filled  jelly-bag.  I  wanted 
to  know  him. 

"  As  our  delegation  lay  over  in  the  city  it  fell  upon  me  to 
have  to  preach,  and  already  I  had  formed  the  habit  of  being 
careful,  on  special  occasions,  not  to  try  to  preach,  but  on  all 
occasions  to  do  my  best.  The  sermon  made  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kavanaugh  my  friends.  She  was  a  charming  type  of  the  best 
kind  of  Methodist  woman,  and  that  is  high  praise.  She  was 
tall  and  slender,  and  in  every  physical,  and  perhaps  mental, 
quality  the  opposite  of  her  husband,  certainly  in  the  latter  his 
complement.  They  went  down  the  river  with  us,  and  every- 
thing I  saw  and  heard  of  Hubbard  Kavanaugh  made  him 
dearer  to  me.  Then  I  felt  that  that  man  ought  to  be  a 
bishop  of  the  church,  but  knew  that  his  time  was  not  yet. 

"  From  St.  Louis  I  carried  back  the  best  remembrances  of 
Mr.  Kavanaugh.  He  was  so  simple  without  insipidity,  so 
conscientious  without  asperity,  so  earnest  without  fanaticism, 
so  cheerful  without  frivolity,  so  efficient  without  ambition,  that 
I  loved  to  dwell  upon  his  character  and  try  to  form  mine  after 
the  model.  And  what  a  preacher  he  was,  after  the  first  three 
quarters  of  an  hour!  He  was  an  Alleghany  thunder-storm 
turned  loose.  He  could  not  preach  in  an  expository,  quiet, 
conversational  manner.  His  subject  seemed  to  burn  in  him 
like  a  smoldering  fire  until  it  reached  a  vent,  when  it  suddenly 
blazed  forth  and  set  his  whole  nature  in  flame. 

"  In  1854  we  were  again  elected  to  the  General  Conference, 


102 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


held  that  year  in  Columbus,  Ga.  As  few  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina delegates  had  seen  Mr.  Kavanaugh,  and  none  but  myself 
knew  him  personally  and  well,  the  brethren  depended  upon 
my  representations  of  him,  and  I  urged  his  name  warmly.  It 
was  agreed  that  we  would  vote  for  him.  It  ought  perhaps  to 
be  said  that  I  had  never  spoken  on  this  subject  to  Mr.  Kava- 
naugh, and  that  in  the  North  Carolina  Conference  there  was 
no  one  suffering  with  the  cacoethes  episcopalis. 

"  During  the  session  a  Kentucky  delegate  came  to  me  and 
asked  me  what  the  North  Carolinians  desired  in  regard  to  the 
episcopacy.  I  told  him  that  we  had  no  aspirations,  but  would 
be  pleased  to  receive  suggestions ;  and  he  replied  that  the 
Kentucky  brethren  had  not  made  any  choice.  'Well,  you 
don't  have  far  to  look.'  'What  do  you  mean?'  he  asked. 
'Of  course  you  will  vote  for  Hubbard  H.  Kavanaugh!'  was 
my  answer,  and  he  replied,  '  We  have  not  thought  of  him ; 
could  he  be  elected?'  'That  is  not  the  question,'  said  I; 
'  but  the  whole  North  Carolina  delegation  is  going  to  vote  for 
him  because  we  believe  he  ought  to  be  elected.'  The  Ken- 
tucky delegate  seemed  to  be  surprised,  but  pleased.  The  result 
was  that  Mr.  Kavanaugh  was  elected  bishop. 

"The  bishop  was  known  to  be  given  to  preaching  sermons 
that  were  lofty  and  long,  taking  a  good  while  to  reach  the  req- 
uisite pitch.  After  his  election,  while  we  were  talking  it  over 
in  his  room,  and  his  natural  modesty  was  really  so  oppressing 
him  that  he  felt  as  if  he  could  not  take  the  mighty  work  in 
hand,  I  spoke  cheerfully  and  playfully  with  him,  giving  him 
two  pieces  of  advice.  One  was  that  when  he  was  to  preach 
at  a  conference  he  should  commence  in  the  basement,  hold 
forth  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  and  then  go  preaching 
up  into  the  pulpit,  and  carry  everything  before  him.  Mrs. 
Kavanaugh  said  she  had  given  him  similar  advice.  The  other 
was  that  he  never  attend  an  annual  conference  without  having 
Mrs.  Kavanaugh  with  him,  assigning  as  a  reason  that  I  had 


TEACHING  AND  PREACHING 


103 


cast  my  vote  mainly  for  the  female  side  of  the  house,  for  if 
ever  there  were  to  be  lady  bishops,  Mrs.  Kavanaugh  was  my 
first  choice.  The  first  advice  I  have  never  heard  that  he 
heeded ;  the  second  I  beheve  he  faithfully  observed,  to  his 
own  great  comfort  and  the  profit  of  the  church, 

"At  the  General  Conference  of  1866  in  New  Orleans,  the 
last  in  which  I  had  the  honor  to  represent  the  North  Carolina 
Conference,  who  gave  me  that  distinction  although  I  had  been 
removed  to  New  York,  Bishop  Kavanaugh  one  day  invited 
me  to  dine  with  him.  Connected  with  the  house  of  his  host 
was  a  garden,  in  which  we  walked  and  talked.  At  the  end 
of  the  alley,  after  we  had  passed  up  and  down  the  path  sev- 
eral times,  he  wheeled  in  front  of  me,  stood  and  chuckled,  and 
shook  with  that  peculiar  motion  of  merriment  so  familiar  to 
his  friends,  and  said,  '  Deems,  the  responsibility  of  my  being 
bishop  is  on  your  shoulders.'  '  Let  it  stay  there ;  I  am  willing 
to  bear  it.'  '  Do  you  know  what  I  thought  of  you  when  you 
first  mentioned  me  for  bishop?'  'Certainly  not;  you  never 
told  me.'  '  Well,'  said  he,  pausing  a  moment  and  chuckling 
again,  '  I  thought  you  were  a  fool.'  And  he  laughed  outright. 
'  Well,  bishop,  what  did  you  think  of  a  majority  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  when  they  coincided  with  me?'  Then  he 
shook  with  merriment  and  exclaimed,  'Why,  I  thought  they 
were  fools  too.'  '  And  have  you  never  recovered  your  respect 
for  the  General  Conference  and  for  me,  bishop?'  There 
came  suddenly  a  deeply  solemn  expression  into  his  face,  and 
he  said  slowly,  '  Never,  until  our  war  came.  There  was  a 
moment  of  crisis  in  Kentucky  and  the  surrounding  region. 
The  affairs  of  the  Southern  Methodist  Church  were  in  such 
position  that  perhaps  there  was  no  man  living  who  could  have 
held  the  church  from  destruction  but  myself.  My  antece- 
dents and  connections  in  Kentucky  gave  me  the  needed  influ- 
ence, and  one  day  in  the  midst  of  great  pressure  there  came 
to  me  a  consciousness  of  that,  but  never  up  to  that  hour  had 


104 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


I  been  able  to  understand  the  providence  which  had  allowed 
the  church  to  make  me  bishop.'  A  little  twinkle  came  back 
into  his  eye,  and  he  added,  'Then  it  occurred  to  me  that 
Deems  might  be  a  fool,  but  he  was  a  prophet  likewise.*  And 
he  put  his  arm  in  mine,  drew  me  affectionately  to  him,  and 
we  left  the  garden. 

"  When  the  Round  Lake  Fraternal  Camp-meeting  was  pro- 
jected, among  the  names  in  the  South  which  I  furnished  the 
promoters  was  that  of  Bishop  Kavanaugh.  The  church  papers. 
North  and  South,  told  how  he  won  all  hearts  by  his  modesty, 
sweetness,  and  cheerfulness,  and  how  he  surprised  the  great 
audience  who  heard  him  preach  by  the  vast  sweep  of  his 
thought  and  the  mighty  unction  of  his  delivery.  There  are 
thousands  who  will  make  the  impression  on  their  children's 
children  that  the  man  they  heard  at  Round  Lake  was  the 
mightiest  preaching  bishop  in  America. 

"  My  last  meeting  with  Bishop  Kavanaugh  was  at  Deering 
Camp-ground,  in  Kentucky.  I  suspect  that  I  owed  my  invi- 
tation to  that  meeting  to  my  dear  old  friend.  It  was  easy  for 
a  man  of  my  style  to  preach  alternately  with  a  man  of  Bishop 
Kavanaugh's  style,  because  we  were  so  totally  different  in 
physique,  and  in  manner  of  thought  and  deHvery,  that  no 
comparison  would  probably  suggest  itself  to  any  hearer ;  and 
we  were  intent  on  saving  souls.  A  cottage  was  set  apart  for 
us;  there  we  talked  together  about  things  pertaining  to  the 
kingdom  of  God,  there  we  prayed  together,  thence  we  went 
together  to  the  pulpit,  and  there  we  parted,  to  meet  no  more 
on  earth.  The  next  spring,  when  traveling  in  the  Arabian 
Desert,  going  up  to  awful  Sinai,  the  mount  of  God,  one  night 
I  dreamed  of  that  cottage  on  the  Kentucky  hill,  and  thought 
it  was  night,  and  thought  I  heard  the  choir  singing,  as  they 
did  one  night  before  that  cottage  door,  the  strains  of  '  Beulah 
Land,'  and  the  impression  was  so  great  that  I  awoke,  and  still 
heard  the  notes  so  distinctly  that  I  walked  out  of  the  tent  upon 


TEACH  I XG  AND  PREACHING 


105 


the  cold  sand,  among  my  sleeping  Arabs  and  sleeping  camels, 
as  if  I  would  find  the  singers.  Then  I  knew  it  was  an  echo 
from  the  Kentucky  camp,  and  I  seemed  to  be  with  Bishop 
Kavanaugh.  I  felt  that  since  Moses  went  that  road  with 
Aaron  and  Hur  no  purer,  loftier  soul  had  gone  that  way  up 
to  the  mount  of  God." 

The  St.  Louis  Conference  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
three  members,  the  bishops  present  being  Bishops  Andrew, 
Paine,  Capers,  and  Soule. 

Probably  the  most  interesting  event  of  the  occasion  was  the 
election  to  the  episcopate  of  Henry  B.  Bascom,  D.D.  His 
ordination  took  place  in  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  May  12th, 
and  is  referred  to  as  follows  in  Mr.  Deems's  account  of  the 
conference  in  the  "  Southern  Methodist  Pulpit "  : 

"  An  hour  before  the  appointed  time  the  large  and  elegant 
church  where  we  met  was  crowded,  the  aisles  were  full,  the 
vestibule  was  blocked  up  with  standing  spectators,  aged  clergy 
filled  the  altar  and  the  pulpit  steps.  The  bishop  elect  opened 
the  services  with  a  chapter  from  the  Scriptures  and  announced 
a  hymn.  Dr.  Lovick  Pierce  followed  in  prayer,  and  Dr.  Bas- 
com preached.  '  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the 
cross,'  was  his  theme.  He  read  his  sermon,  adhering  minutely 
to  the  manuscript,  and  following  the  lines  with  the  finger  of 
his  left  hand.  His  voice  was  low  and  husky,  so  that  he  could 
scarcely  have  been  heard  by  more  than  half  the  assemblage, 
until  he  arrived  at  his  concluding  paragraphs.  Occasionally 
he  would  look  up  with  an  eye  all  fire,  and  fling  upon  the  con- 
gregation a  sentence  which  had  the  effect  of  the  touch  of  the 
torpedo  upon  those  who  heard.  His  excitement  was  intense ; 
he  trembled  under  it,  and  so  did  we.  We  were  afraid  that  it 
was  more  than  he  could  endure.  The  last  paragraph  was  as- 
cendingly  glorious.  After  his  sermon  the  bishop  elect  was 
conducted  by  the  venerable  Drs.  Early  and  Lovick  Pierce 


106 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


to  his  place  in  front  of  the  altar.  Bishop  Andrew  read  the 
collect,  Bishop  Capers  the  epistle,  Bishop  Paine  the  gospel. 
Dr.  Early  presented  the  bishop  elect.  Bishop  Andrew  moved 
the  congregation  to  prayer  and  afterward  addressed  and 
questioned  the  bishop  elect.  The  impressive  Veni  Creator 
Spiritus  was  repeated  in  alternate  strains  by  the  bishops  and 
other  clergy  present.  The  senior  bishop  was  then  brought  in, 
in  a  feeble  state,  tottering  and  gasping  for  breath.  He  stood 
up— that  great  wreck  of  the  noble  Bishop  Soule*— and  laid 
his  large  and  heavy  hand  on  the  head  of  Dr.  Bascom,  which 
seemed  to  sink  beneath  the  pressure.  The  other  bishops  and 
Drs.  Early  and  Pierce  then  laid  their  hands  upon  his.  In 
the  profound  stillness  of  the  great  congregation,  making,  as 
it  were,  the  last  effort  of  his  old  age,  in  a  low,  tremulous  voice 
Bishop  Soule  said,  'Receive  the  Holy  Ghost  for  the  office 
and  work  of  a  bishop  in  the  church  of  God.'  The  Bible  was 
presented  by  Bishop  Andrew,  and  the  concluding  prayer  was 
offered  by  Bishop  Paine.  In  a  state  of  exhaustion  from  the 
protracted  and  intensely  interesting  service,  the  congregation 
retired  from  the  church." 

Meeting  Bishop  Bascom  shortly  after  the  service,  Mr.  Deems 
said  to  him,  "Good-morning,  Doctor— Bishop  Bascom;"  and 
his  reply,  with  his  husky  voice  and  flushing  face,  to  the  ac- 
knowledgment of  his  new  honor  and  authority  was,  "  You  tear 
my  head  with  a  crown  of  thorns."  Impressive  as  was  the 
occasion  of  the  ordination  of  this  great  and  good  bishop,  its 
impressiveness  would  have  been  deepened  had  those  concerned 
seen  that  within  four  months,  on  September  8,  1850,  the  good 
bishop  was  to  exchange  his  "  crown  of  thorns  "  for  a  "  crown 
of  life." 

While  the  conference  was  in  session  St.  Louis  was  suffering 
from  a  visitation  of  the  cholera.    Considerable  sickness  and 

*  Bishop  Soule  was  the  framer  of  the  constitution  of  the  Southern 
Methodist  Church. 


TEACHING  AND  PREACHING 


107 


panic  prevailed  among  the  delegates,  but,  with  commendable 
faithfulness,  they  stood  at  the  post  of  duty,  and  much  impor- 
tant business  was  transacted  before  adjournment. 

It  was  while  at  the  St.  Louis  Conference  that  Mr.  Deems 
was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Greensboro  Female  College, 
at  Greensboro,  N.  C.  After  due  consideration,  deciding  to 
accept  the  position,  he  returned  to  Newbern,  and,  closing  his 
pastorate  there,  moved  his  family  to  his  new  field  of  work. 


CHAPTER  II 


PRESIDENT  OF  GREENSBORO  COLLEGE,  1850-54 

MR.  DEEMS  found  the  affairs  of  Greensboro  College  at  a 
low  ebb.  The  buildings  were  sadly  out  of  repair  and  in- 
adequate to  meet  the  demands  of  any  increased  patronage ;  the 
curriculum  was  more  contracted  than  that  of  any  similar  school 
in  the  South ;  there  were  virtually  no  appliances  for  teaching, 
such  as  maps,  globes,  and  philosophical  apparatus ;  the  staff 
of  teachers  was  insufficient  in  numbers  and  variety ;  and  the 
charges  for  board  and  tuition  were  below  those  of  other  like 
schools. 

With  characteristic  executive  ability,  zeal,  devotion,  and 
fidelity,  he  detected  the  wants  of  the  college,  and  by  his  fac- 
ulty for  inspiring  confidence  he  so  aroused  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  trustees  that  they  gave  him  his  way,  which  meant  certain 
success.  During  the  five  years  of  his  life  in  Greensboro  he 
caused  the  older  buildings  to  be  repaired  and  new  ones  to  a 
great  extent  to  be  added ;  the  curriculum  was  enlarged  so  as 
to  equal  any,  and  in  some  respects  to  surpass  all,  rival  female 
seminaries  in  the  South.  He  gathered  about  him— for  he  pos- 
sessed rare  powers  for  the  appraisement  of  the  fitness  of  others — 
a  superb  corps  of  faithful  and  capable  teachers.  These  he  in- 
spired with  his  own  ardor,  ambition,  and  breadth  of  views  ;  and 
not  only  by  his  liberality  toward  them  in  the  matter  of  secur- 
ing for  them  increased  salaries,— for  he  believed  in  paying  good 
108 


PRESIDENT  OF  GREENSBORO  COLLEGE  109 


teachers  liberally,— but,  above  all,  by  that  genial,  gracious,  just, 
and  generous  manner  which  ever  marked  his  intercourse  with 
everybody  and  in  every  relation  of  life,  he  so  endeared  him- 
self to  them  personally  that  service  seemed  but  an  act  of 
friendship.  The  college  was  fully  equipped  for  efficient  teach- 
ing ;  the  charges  for  board  and  tuition  were  raised  so  as  no 
longer  to  underbid  other  hke  institutions ;  and  withal,  under 
his  able  and  brilliant  presidency,  Greensboro  Female  College 
took  a  foremost  place  among  the  seminaries  of  learning  for 
young  women ;  and  so  deep  and  broad  were  the  foundations 
which  he  laid  anew  for  the  reorganized  and  remodeled  school 
that  it  has  ever  kept  its  high  rank. 

During  vacations,  and  often  during  term-time.  President 
Deems  was  indefatigable  in  making  tours  to  various  parts  of 
the  State  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  for  the  college  and 
otherwise  promoting  its  interests. 

From  his  Journal,  1852 

"  March  27th.  Visit  from  the  Rev.  G.  M.  Everhart,  a  tutor 
in  Emory  and  Henry  College,  who  came  to  sound  me  upon 
taking  the  presidency  of  the  college,  about  to  be  vacated  by 
President  Collins,  who  goes  to  the  head  of  Dickinson.  Do 
not  see  that  it  is  my  duty  to  go.  Am  doing  much  good  here, 
and  should  be  perfectly  satisfied  if  I  had  a  comfortable  house. 
By  '  perfectly  satisfied  '  I  mean  as  much  so  as  I  could  be  in  a 
literary  institution.  In  any  situation  I  must  have  vexations. 
I  have  them  here.  ...  I  am  too  small,  too  young,  too  little 
learned,  to  preside  over  a  faculty  of  older  and  abler  men." 

"April  22d,  Thursday.  Cold  and  windy.  At  twenty  min- 
utes past  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  looked  upon  the  face 
of  my  jourih  child,  a  boy.  There  is  no  name  for  the  young 
man  as  yet.  His  mother  insists  on  calling  him  Charles,  but 
I  protest  against  this,  as  I  cannot  endure  the  practice  of  per- 


110 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


petuating  names  in  a  family.  The  use  of  names  is  to  make  dis- 
tinction. But  suppose  there  should  be  half  a  dozen  Charleses. 
Some  adjunct  to  the  name  would  have  to  be  used,  as  old 
Charles,  young  Charles,  big  Charles,  little  Charles,  swearing 
Charles,  etc.  My  plan  in  names  is  to  make  as  sure  as  possi- 
ble that  no  other  Deems  ever  had  the  name  I  proposed  for 
my  child." 

Faithful  old  "Aunt  Lucinda,"  the  colored  nurse  who  had 
served  the  family  so  loyally  at  Randolph-Macon  and  at  New- 
bern,  was  a  valued  member  of  the  household  in  Greensboro. 
After  a  time  her  health  failed.  One  night,  after  an  unusually 
hard  clay,  she  asked  Mrs.  Deems  to  come  up  to  her  room  and 
read  the  Bible  to  her  and  pray  with  her.  This  was  gladly 
done,  for  we  all  loved  Aunt  Lucinda.  Then  came  the  good- 
night salutations.  In  the  morning  when  her  room  was  visited, 
she  was  found,  with  a  peaceful  expression,  resting  in  the  sleep 
of  death.  It  was  a  terrible  shock  to  the  family,  and  more 
genuine  grief  for  the  dead  was  never  felt  than  that  of  our 
household  when  Aunt  Lucinda  died. 

Shortly  after  this  there  came  to  the  kitchen  door  and  in- 
quired for  Mrs.  Deems  a  very  neatly  dressed  colored  woman, 
whose  speech  and  bearing  were  those  of  a  person  of  unusual 
intelligence. 

"Well,  my  good  woman,  what  can  we  do  for  you?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Deems. 

"  I  want  you  to  buy  me.  Miss  Deems."   (The  negroes  never 
said  "  Mrs."  ;  it  was  always  "  Miss.") 
"  What  is  your  name?  " 
"  Rachel,  ma'am." 

"Why  do  you  want  us  to  buy  you,  Rachel?  Have  you 
not  a  good  home?  " 

"  Yes,  ma'am,  I  got  a  good  home,  and  my  master  is  very 
kind ;  but  he's  got  to  sell,  and  he  told  me  I  might  pick  out 


PRESIDENT  OF  GREENSBORO  COLLEGE  111 


somebody  to  buy  me  if  I  could.  I  likes  Dr.  Deems  and  you, 
and  would  like  you  to  buy  me.  Can't  you,  miss?  I  wish 
mightily  you  would! " 

Mrs.  Deems  told  her  that  they  did  not  want  to  buy  a  ser- 
vant at  that  time,  but  "  Aunt  Rachel "  persisted,  carried  her 
point,  and  was  bought  for  about  eight  hundred  dollars.  As 
Dr.  Deems  made  it  a  point  not  to  separate  negro  families,  he 
hired  "  Uncle  Henry,"  Aunt  Rachel's  husband.  They  were 
a  worthy  couple,  and  a  deep  attachment  existed  between  them 
and  the  family.  They  were  always  present  at  family  worship, 
and  received  every  care  and  attention.  Aunt  Rachel  could 
read  and  was  a  devout  Christian,  as  was  the  case  with  slaves 
in  so  many  homes  in  the  South. 

From  his  Journal,  1852 

"June  30th,  Weldon,  Wednesday.  A  mass-meeting,  at 
which  I  took  ground  distinctly  in  favor  of  the  passage  of  a 
law  prohibiting  the  traffic  in  ardent  spirits,  reviewing  the 
statutes  of  the  State  upon  the  subject.  I  was  about  two  hours 
speaking,  and  the  assembly  listened  with  marked  attention. 
Thursday,  dined  at  S.  W.  Brandis's,  took  tea  with  the  Rev. 
Thomas  G.  Lowe  in  Halifax,  spent  the  night  in  Weldon,  and 
next  evening  reached  Stony  Creek  and  the  residence  of  my 
father-in-law,  I.  D.  Disosway,  Esq.,  where  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  Mrs.  Deems  and  the  children.  On  this  tour  I 
collected  bonds  and  cash  amounting  to  one  thousand  dollars 
for  the  Fund  for  Educating  Preachers'  Daughters." 

"July  15th.  The  college  opened  its  fall  session,  and  fifty- 
four  boarders  were  in  attendance  the  first  day.  In  about  a 
fortnight  we  had  seventy-seven.  This  is  the  largest  number 
ever  in  attendance  during  the  fall  session.  We  reached  sev- 
enty-five last  Christmas." 

"August  1st.    The  little  book  'AVhat  Now?'  was  written 


112 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


for  the  class  which  graduated  at  our  late  commencement.  It 
was  the  product  of  three  weeks'  work  of  scraps  and  shreds  of 
time,  and  was  sent  without  copying  to  the  printer.  This  is  very 
indiscreet,  but  it  was  an  emergency.  May  it  do  much  good. 
Dr.  Collins  has  finally  left  Emory  and  Henry  College.  I  have 
had  a  visit  from  the  Rev.  T.  R.  Catlett,  a  trustee,  and  the  Rev. 
G.  M.  Everhart,  formerly  of  the  faculty.  They  both  urge  me 
to  accept  the  presidency.  A  letter  from  my  friend  Coleman 
does  the  same.  Do  not  yet  see  my  duty  clear ;  must  be  con- 
vinced of  that,  or  I  do  not  move.  How  much  easier  life 
would  be  if  we  had  an  angel  of  revelation  to  tell  us  on  each 
occasion  what  is  right !  I  think  I  desire  to  do  right,  but  I  am 
very  frequently  puzzled  to  know  what  to  do.  '  Father,  thou 
art  my  guide  from  my  youth.'  " 

"August  1 6th.  Made  a  missionary  collection  of  sixty  dol- 
lars, only  seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  having  been  collected 
on  the  whole  circuit  last  year.  This  was  favorable.  On  the 
20th  of  August  I  started  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  for 
Halifax,  after  being  up  and  at  conversation  or  labor  all  night. 
The  next  night,  about  ten  o'clock,  reached  the  court-house 
and  had  half  a  night's  sleep.  The  next  day  I  left  Brother 
Samuel  Major's.  With  him  and  Brother  Sackett  and  Brother 
Mallett,  whom  I  met  for  the  first  time,  I  went  to  the  camp- 
ground at  Asbury  Meeting-house.  There  was  no  preacher 
from  a  distance  but  myself,  Brother  Bibb  (the  preacher  in 
charge)  and  Brother  Joseph  Goodman  being  the  only  other 
preachers.  The  consequence  was  that  I  had  most  of  the 
heavy  work  to  perform.  It  rained  almost  incessandy  after 
Sunday  morning.  I  collected  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars  in  bonds  for  the  college ;  but  it  is  such  hard  work." 

"August  25th.  Rode  to  Mr.  Stovall's,  who  is  senator  for 
the  county,  and  who  gave  me  fifty  dollars  on  my  scheme  for 
the  college.  At  night  reached  Halifax,  and  started  off  in  the 
stage,  reaching  home  on  the  night  of  the  27  th.    In  all  this 


PRESIDENT  OF  GREENSBORO  COLLEGE  113 


time  I  had  been  in  dry  sheets  only  one  night,  and  yet  am 
mercifully  preserved." 

"August  29th.  The  sermon  which  I  preached  on  the  ist 
of  August  was  remarkably  blessed  to  the  conversion  of  Pro- 
fessor Kern,  who  has  since  professed  sanctification  and  is  a 
happy  soul.  Thank  God!  I  began  to  feel  that  I  had  lost 
my  call.  Glory  be  to  the  Comforter  for  this  blessed  revela- 
tion of  Himself! " 

"  Saturday,  September  4th.  Went  to  visit  Sylva  Grove 
School,  Davidson  County,  N.  C,  the  property  of  Charles 
Mock,  Esq.,  twenty-four  miles  southwest  of  Greensboro,  with 
some  view  of  purchasing  it." 

"September  i8th.  Went  to  Sylva  Grove  and  concluded 
the  bargain  for  Mock's  place." 

"  September  25th.  Have  changed  the  name  of  Sylva  Grove 
to  Glenanna,  in  honor  of  my  precious  wife." 

"  October  27th.  The  Grand  Division  of  the  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance held  its  annual  session  in  Salisbury,  N.  C,  commenc- 
ing on  the  25th  of  October.  I  was  elected  Worthy  Associate. 
Having  been  put  in  nomination  against  L.  Blakmer,  Esq.,  I 
declined  votes,  desiring  to  have  him  unanimously  elected,  be- 
lieving him  to  be  entitled  to  the  position.  I  am  glad  that  I 
did  this.  It  is  always  pleasant  afterwa7-(i  to  have  denied  one's 
selfishness.  I  was  immediately  elected  Associate,  and  the 
Grand  Division  appointed  Mr.  Blakmer  and  myself  to  repre- 
sent them  at  the  National  Division  to  be  held  in  Chicago  next 
June.  They  give  each  one  hundred  dollars  to  pay  expenses. 
I  was  also  able  to  help  another  friend  by  having  the  Rev.  Peter 
Doub  appointed  Grand  Lecturer  of  the  State,  on  a  respec- 
table salary.  It  is  so  pleasant  to  have  influence  to  exert  in 
behalf  of  the  good  and  deserving ;  it  is  the  highest  pleasure  of 
my  life,  so  far  as  intercourse  with  my  fellow-men  is  concerned. 
At  this  Grand  Division  I  made  a  move  to  mcite  the  people  of 
the  State  to  forward  legislative  action  against  the  liquor  traffic. 


114 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


I  made  the  motion  with  little  hope  of  seeing  it  taken  up  so 
warmly  and  prosecuted  so  vigorously  as  it  was.  The  Grand 
Division  as  a  body  resolved  to  petition  the  legislature,  and 
appointed  a  committee,  of  which  I  was  chairman,  to  draft  a 
memorial  to  be  scattered  through  the  State  for  signers  of  all 
classes.  These  agents  were  appointed  to  lecture  and  obtain 
signatures  to  this  memorial  until  December  1 5th.  The  memo- 
rial to  the  legislature  does  not  ask  what  I  desire ;  it  is  only 
such  a  one  as  we  hope  may  obtain  signers.  Believing  it  a 
crime  in  the  sight  of  God  to  sell  liquor  as  a  beverage,  I  would 
no  more  legislate  for  its  regulation  than  for  the  regulation  of 
adultery,  theft,  etc." 

"  October  29th.  Left  Sahsbury  in  the  stage  early  in  the 
morning  and  rode  all  day  to  Greensboro.  Among  my  fellow- 
passengers  were  the  Rev.  Peter  Doub  and  Philip  J.  White,  the 
temperance  lecturer.  White  is  the  most  entertaining  traveling 
companion  I  ever  saw.  At  night  simply  stopped  at  home  to 
have  tea,  kiss  wife,  shake  hands  with  the  folk  of  the  college, 
and  off  again.  Sunday  evening,  the  30th,  reached  Raleigh 
and  stayed  with  S.  H.  Young." 

"  On  Tuesday,  November  2d,  went  to  Franklinton  depot. 
Reached  Louisburg  same  evening.  Our  session  lasted  eight 
days  and  was  the  most  harmonious  and  pleasant  I  ever  at- 
tended. The  most  important  action,  so  far  as  I  was  concerned, 
was  the  assumption  by  the  conference  of  the  raising  of  fifteen 
thousand  dollars  necessary  to  complete  the  twenty  thousand 
dollars'  education  fund.   It  is  to  be  solicited  by  the  preachers." 

"  December  4th.  My  birthday.  Damp,  unpleasant,  part 
of  the  day  rainy.  Rode  to  Pleasant  Garden,  Guilford,  to 
deliver  a  temperance  address.  Am  thirty-two  years  old.  How 
the  time  flies!  Alas,  how  Utde  I  have  done!  This  is  the 
sad  song  at  the  close  of  each  year,  and  the  old  resolution  is 
entered  to  do  better.  May  God  give  me  grace  to  make  this 
next  year  the  richest  of  my  life!" 


PRESIDENT  OF  GREENSBORO  COLLEGE  115 

"  December  24th.  The  session  of  the  Annual  Conference 
closed  December  15th,  and  on  Monday,  20th,  I  went  to  my 
place  at  Glenanna.  Miss  Nixon  accompanied  me.  Met  Miss 
Bronson  on  the  evening  of  the  20th  at  John  W.  Thomas's.  She 
will  enter  upon  the  principalship  of  Glenanna  on  the  first  Mon- 
day in  January.    Prepared  a  circular  for  Glenanna." 

"  December  25th.  The  memorial  to  the  legislature  on  the 
subject  of  the  liquor  traffic  went  up  on  the  20th  of  December 
with  the  signatures  of  more  than  ten  thou.sand  voters,  more 
than  four  thousand  ladies,  and  a  number  of  youths,  in  all  over 
fifteen  thousand.  This  is  a  most  glorious  result,  far  beyond 
my  expectations.  For  this  I  thank  God,  and  I  thank  him  that 
he  gave  me  the  spirit  of  this  work  and  the  coiu-age  to  bring 
it  before  the  people.  The  legislature  did  nothing,  but  the 
thing  is  now  before  the  people,  and  the  discussion  will  be  kept 
up  until  we  prohibit  the  traffic." 

"  December  31st.  During  the  past  year  I  have  dehvered 
fifty-two  discourses.  This  was  small,  but  I  remember  how  con- 
fined I  am,  and  hope  that  having  preached  more  than  once  a 
week  on  an  average  will  not  be  considered  too  infrequent. 
The  Lord  have  mercy  upon  me  and  forgive  all  my  shortcom- 
ings! I  desire  to  be  as  useful  as  possible.  The  total  number 
of  my  discourses  to  the  close  of  this  year  is  nine  hundred  and 
eighty-eight." 

1853 

"January  ist.  I  open  the  year  with  labor,  commencing  a 
new  series  of  lectures  on  chemistry.  I  have  also  commenced 
the  compilation  of  a  cyclopedia  of  temperance  matter.  This 
is  intended  to  be  a  work  of  permanent  value.*  At  the  close  of 
the  last  year  I  concluded  the  publication  of  the  '  Southern 
Methodist  Pulpit '  after  years  of  labor.    In  the  several  peri- 


*  He  never  finislied  that  undertaking. 


116 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


odicals  and  in  many  letters,  I  am  receiving  expressions  of 
great  regard  for  that  publication." 

"April  24th.  Mrs.  Deems  and  all  the  children  accom- 
panied me  to  Glenanna.  Wife's  first  visit.  Went  on  Friday, 
2  2d,  the  first  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  our  fourth  child, 
whom  we  have  fully  concluded  to  call  Edward  Ernest.*  Per- 
haps it  is  not  much  of  a  coincidence,  but  my  family  arrived 
at  Greensboro  College  the  day  our  third  child,  Minnie,  was 
one  year  old." 

"  May  3d.  Discourse  on  Odd  Fellowship  at  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  hall  of  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  Salem,  N.  C." 

"  May  19th.    Our  annual  commencement." 

"June  loth,  Chicago,  111.  I  was  in  attendance  upon  the 
National  Division.  Here  became  acquainted  with  Judge 
O'Neal  of  South  CaroHna,  Neal  Dow  of  Maine,  General  Car- 
ney of  Ohio,  Oliver  of  New  York,  and  other  co-laborers  in 
the  great  temperance  work." 

"July  loth.  A  family  meeting  was  held  at  my  father-in- 
law's,  Mr.  Disosway's.  The  Rev.  John  Bagley  thus  signalized 
the  event  in  a  newspaper  article : 

"  '  On  last  Friday  morning  a  pleasant  ride  of  about  forty 
miles  from  Richmond,  on  the  Petersburg  and  Raleigh  rail- 
roads, brought  me  to  the  depot  at  Stony  Creek,  where  I  found 
a  friend  waiting  with  a  carriage,  in  which  I  was  conveyed  to 
Pleasant  Grove,  the  residence  of  Israel  D.  Disosway,  Esq., 
the  father-in-law  of  Dr.  Deems,  where  I  spent  several  days  in 
the  most  agreeable  manner.  Here  I  found  one  of  those 
deeply  interesting  family  gatherings  which  are  so  often  seen  in 
old  Virginia.  Brother  George  W.  Deems,  of  the  Virginia 
Conference,  Dr.  Deems,  his  gifted  son,  with  their  wives  and 
children,  had  left  their  fields  of  labor  for  a  season  to  meet  once 
more  on  earth,  probably  for  the  last  time  that  all  would  enjoy 
such  a  meeting.  Eleven  children  and  thirteen  adults  formed 
*  He  was  finally  named  Edward  Mark. 


PRESIDENT  OF  GA'EENSBOA'O  COLLEGE 


117 


the  social  band  who  had  been  thus  brought  together  by  the 
mysterious  providences  of  God,  to  sit  around  the  family  board, 
to  talk  and  sing  and  pray,  to  go  to  the  house  of  God  together, 
and  then  to  take  the  parting  hand  and  in  different  spheres  to 
engage  in  the  great  battle  of  hfe. 

"  '  As  Dr.  Deems  had  made  an  appointment  to  preach  at 
Hall's  on  Sunday,  Brother  Covington  had  embraced  the  op- 
portunity to  hold  a  meeting  of  several  days.  It  was  my  priv- 
ilege to  hear  Dr.  Deems  and  his  father  preach  on  the  same 
day  to  quite  a  large  country  congregation.  Owing  to  the 
smallness  of  the  house,  which  would  not  accommodate  all  the 
female  portion  of  the  congregation,  the  services  were  con- 
ducted under  an  arbor.  The  doctor's  text  was  John  v.  40. 
For  about  an  hour  and  a  half  the  eloquent  preacher  enchained 
the  attention  of  the  congregation  while  he  held  up  before  his 
hearers  the  reasons  why  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God 
is  rejected  by  the  mass  of  mankind.  It  is  not  my  intention 
to  attempt  an  analysis  of  the  discourse.  It  was  well  adapted 
to  produce  conviction  on  the  minds  of  sinners.  It  came  hke 
the  breath  of  spring  on  the  cold,  frost-bound  heart,  and  I  trust 
that  it  produced  in  some  the  buddings  of  good  desires,  the 
blossoms  of  holy  resolutions,  and  that  it  will  yet  bring  forth 
the  ripe  fruit  of  faith,  hope,  and  love.' 

"  The  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity  was  conferred  upon  me 
by  the  authorities  of  Randolph-Macon  College,  June,  1853." 

"  October  27th.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Grand  Division  of 
the  Sons  of  Temperance  in  Wilmington  I  was  chosen  to  be 
the  Grand  Worthy  Patriarch  by  a  very  large  vote." 

"  November  1 2th.  At  the  conference  held  in  Raleigh  I 
was  elected  to  the  General  Conference  at  the  head  of  the  dele- 
gation.   The  confidence  of  brethren  is  pleasant." 

"  December  5th.  My  thirty-third  birthday  fell  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  was  spent  at  home,  the  first  so  spent  in  many  years." 

"  December  25th.    My  father  and  his  family  visited  me  in 


118 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


November.  The  first  number  of  the  '  Ballot-box  '  *  issued  in 
December.  My  soul,  I  hope,  has  greater  desires  after  holi- 
ness! During  the  past  year  my  discourses  amounted  to  forty- 
eight,  of  which  twenty-five  were  new.  The  total  number  of 
my  discourses  to  the  close  of  the  year  is  one  thousand  and 
thirty-six.    Oh,  how  deeply  I  feel  my  feebleness!" 

1854 

"  The  Rev.  Professor  Jones  enters  upon  his  duties.  May  we 
be  mutually  profitable." 

"  On  Monday,  April  24th,  started,  in  company  with  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Carter,  to  attend  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  to  be  held  in  Columbus,  Ga." 

"  April  28th.  Reached  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  early  next  morning 
we  were  in  Macon,  thence  to  dine  in  Columbus.  My  residence 
was  with  Joel  Early  Hunt,  Esq.,  at  Wynnton,  a  delightful  resi- 
dence. My  room-mates  were  the  Rev.  H.  N.  McTyeire,  editor 
of  the  '  New  Orleans  Christian  Advocate,'  and  W.  H.  McDan- 
iel,  P.  E.,  Talladega  district,  Alabama.  The  principal  work  done 
was  the  determination  to  establish  a  Southern  Book  Concern, 
and  the  location  thereof  in  Nashville,  the  improvements  in 
missionary  and  publishing  plans,  and  the  election  of  three 
bishops,  Pierce,  Early,  and  Kavanaugh.  The  first  was  elected 
on  the  first  ballot,  the  second  upon  the  fifth,  and  the  third 
upon  the  seventh  ballot.  For  the  election  of  Dr.  Early  and 
Mr.  Kavanaugh  I  may  hold  myself  responsible,  as  I  suppose 
that  without  the  effort  I  made  they  would  not  have  been 
chosen.  Believing  them  to  be  best  entitled  to  the  place,  I  am 
happy  in  reflecting  upon  the  part  I  took  in  this  matter." 

"On  Monday  morning,  May  2 2d,  was  born  my  fifth  child 
and  fourth  son,  George  Israel.  May  God  consecrate  him  to 
Himself  and  set  him  apart  to  a  high  and  holy  work!  " 

*  A  small  periodical  devoted  to  the  cause  of  temperance  legislation. 


PRESIDENT  OF  GREENSBORO  COLLEGE  119 


"July  30th.  Elected  president  of  Centenary  College, 
Louisiana." 

The  North  Carolina  Conference  met  in  Pittsboro  in  1854. 
During  its  session  it  passed  the  following  resolutions : 

"  Whereas,  We  have  learned  that  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Deems, 
D.D.,  has  been  elected  to  the  presidency  of  Centenary  Col- 
lege, Louisiana,  and  is  now  considering  the  acceptance  of  the 
same ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That,  while  we  appreciate  the  honor  thus  con- 
ferred upon  one  of  our  body  by  one  of  the  highest  institutions 
of  learning  in  the  country,  and  while  we  regard  him  in  the 
highest  sense  in  every  way  qualified  in  intellect,  integrity,  and 
learning,  yet  we  beg  our  brother  to  consider  the  state  of  the 
work  in  North  Carolina,  both  as  regards  the  pastorate  and  in- 
stitutions of  learning,  and  if  he  can  find  it  consistent  with  his 
duty  to  the  church,  that  he  dechne  the  presidency  of  Cente- 
nary College." 

Following  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  in  his  journal  for 
December,  Dr.  Deems  writes : 

"  I  did  decHne  the  call,  and  my  reasons  are  embodied  in  my 
letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Drake,  dated  November  18,  1854. 
Upon  declining  the  presidency  of  the  largest  institution  of 
learning  in  our  church,  I  couid  not  reconcile  it  with  my  sense 
of  propriety  to  retain  the  headship  of  a  more  limited  sphere, 
and  so  I  resigned  the  presidency  of  Greensboro  College,  and 
was  appointed  to  Goldsboro  circuit,  the  Rev.  Ira  T.  Wyche 
being  presiding  elder." 

Thus  it  appears  that  ever  within  he  heard  the  old  call  that 
he  had  heard  when  a  student  in  Dickinson  College,  whore  he 
had  solemnly  consecrated  his  whole  life  to  "preach  Christ, 
and  him  crucified."  Therefore,  when  he  had  securely  assured 
the  future  prosperity  of  the  college  by  showing  on  what  lines 
it  should  be  conducted,  he  determined  to  take  up  again  the 


120 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


regular  ministry.  It  need  hardly  be  said  that  while  rendering 
these  great  special  and  substantial  services  to  his  denomina- 
tion, the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  and  to  the  cause 
of  education  in  general,  Dr.  Deems  was  also  rapidly  increas- 
ing his  own  pe-rsonal  fame  and  greatly  widening  the  circle  of 
his  loving  admirers ;  for  in  this,  as  in  everything  he  had  so  far 
seriously  undertaken,  he  displayed  the  possession  of  qualities 
not  often  found  in  the  same  person.  The  brilliant  pulpit  ora- 
tor had  shown  himself  to  be  an  almost  ideal  college  president. 
He  had  a  rare  faculty  for  maintaining  discipline,  and  so  rare 
was  this  that  the  writer  feels  himself  unable  satisfactorily  to 
describe  it.  He  was  not  a  severe  man  in  either  appearance 
or  disposition,  but  quite  the  opposite  in  both  of  these  respects. 
He  appeared  to  have  ruled  by  a  kind  of  moral  authority  and 
persuasiveness,  unless  he  did  so  by  the  profound  respect  for 
his  sincerity  which  he  inspired  in  all  who  were  brought  into 
close  relationship  with  him.  There  was  a  moral  dignity  about 
him  in  such  exercises  that  seemed  like  the  judicial  ermine  and 
other  insignia  of  right  to  rule.  Whatever  that  gift  of  ruling 
may  be,  whether  a  single  quality  or  a  union  of  qualities,  Dr. 
Deems  possessed  it  in  a  notable  manner  and  to  a  high  degree. 
But  by  the  time  he  had  reached  the  close  of  his  Greensboro 
experience  he  had  shown  himself  to  be  also  a  thorough  busi- 
ness man.  He  was  a  whole  committee  on  ways  and  means 
in  himself  when  it  came  to  the  devi.sing  of  schemes  and 
methods  for  the  raising  of  funds.  Much  of  this  he  had 
learned  in  the  hard  school  of  poverty  through  which  we  have 
seen  him  passing  while  as  yet  even  a  mere  boy.  The  youth 
who  could  help  pay  his  way  through  college  by  writing 
"  poems  "  for  the  press  had  become,  with  all  his  higher  achieve- 
ments, a  systematic,  painstaking  business  man  in  his  habits 
and  methods,  while  liis  innate  sagacity  had  developed  by  ex- 
perience until  he  was  able  to,  and  did,  put  this  poor  college 
on  a  paying  basis. 


CHAPTER  III 


CIRCUIT-RIDING,  1855-56 

APPOINTED  by  the  North  Carolina  Annual  Conference 
^  of  1854  to  the  Everittsville  circuit  when  he  resigned  the 
presidency  of  Greensboro  Female  College,  Dr.  Deems  went 
to  his  work  early  in  1855,  making  his  home  at  Goldsboro,  the 
county-seat  of  Wayne  County,  and  the  largest  place  on  the 
circuit.  He  entered  the  little  parsonage  Saturday,  January 
13,  1855.  Goldsboro  was,  and  has  continued  to  be,  quite  a 
railroad  center,  being  one  of  the  principal  stations  on  the  Wil- 
mington and  Weldon  Railroad,  which  was  the  main  route 
from  the  North  to  the  South.  The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  had  a  female  seminary  in  Goldsboro,  whose 
president,  the  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Frost,  was  a  good  friend  of  Dr. 
Deems,  as  was  also  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ira  T.  Wyche,  who  was  then 
the  presiding  elder  of  the  Newbern  district,  which  included 
the  Goldsboro  circuit. 

In  a  letter  from  New  York  City,  written  November  2,  1880, 
Dr.  Deems  thus  writes  about  the  good  presiding  elder  of  the 
Newbern  district : 

"  How  shall  I  write  of  Ira  T.  Wyche?  He  was  my  friend 
from  the  earUest  years  of  my  ministry  until  he  went  up  higher. 
He  was  a  good  man,  so  true,  so  faithful,  so  forbearing,  so  per- 
sistent in  duty!  He  served  his  friends  in  darkness  as  in  sun- 
shine, and  his  friendship  looked  for  no  reward.  He  served 
in  every  department  of  conference  work  and  served  so  faith- 
121 


122 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


fully!  He  could  be  trusted  with  anything  and  everything. 
I  know  that  my  friends  regard  me  as  no  judge  of  preaching, 
and  I  suspect  they  are  right.  My  talent  for  /learitig  the  Word 
is  so  great  that  it  neutralizes  any  little  critical  ability  there  is 
in  me.  But  I  dehghted  in  the  preaching  of  Ira  T.  Wyche. 
It  struck  me.  One  discourse  of  his,  preached  long  ago,  so 
fixed  its  outline  on  my  memory  that  on  several  occasions  I 
have  used  it,  so  modifying  it  as  to  make  it  available  for  my 
style  of  delivery.  It  has  been  blessed  to  the  conversion  of 
many  souls.  There  is  a  little  incident  connected  with  this 
discourse.  A  few  years  ago  I  was  engaged  one  week-night 
to  preach  in  the  Episcopal  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity  in  this 
city.  By  some  mismanagement  a  marriage  party  had  posses- 
sion of  the  church,  and  the  rector  caused  the  great  congrega- 
tion to  be  turned  into  Dr.  Hepworth's.  There  I  preached  this 
sermon.  At  the  conclusion  of  one  passage  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng 
was  so  warmed  up  that  he  shouted  out  a  hearty  'Amen.'  As 
we  rode  home  my  wife  said  that  she  never  expected  to  hear 
an  Episcopal  clergyman  saying  a  loud  '  Amen '  to  a  sermon 
preached  in  a  Congregational  church.  '  Ah,  my  dear,  it  was 
Ira  T.  Wyche's  sermon,  and  any  man  can  say  "  Amen  "  to 
almost  anything  of  his.'  That  sermon  has  since  been  printed 
and  circulated  widely.  The  Lord  will  reward  each  man  ac- 
cording to  his  work.  For  the  pleasure  of  his  intercourse,  for 
the  fidelity  of  his  friendship,  and  for  his  influence  upon  my 
personal  character,  I  owe  our  dear  departed  friend  so  much 
that  when  the  telegram  reached  me  announcing  his  death,  this 
new  bereavement,  following  so  soon  on  the  departure  of  Mrs. 
Nicholson,  melted  my  heart  within  me.  I  have  reached  that 
time  of  life  when  the  majority  of  my  comrades  and  friends  are 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  Now  Ira  T.  AVyche  has  joined 
not  only  the  majority,  but  the  innumerable  company  of  those 
who  have  washed  their  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb." 


CIRCUIT-RIDING 


123 


The  only  record  of  events  in  the  Hfe  of  Dr.  Deems  in 
Goklsboro  is  contained  in  a  small  pocket-diary,  and  even  this 
has  only  brief  jottings,  evidently  hastily  entered  while  engaged 
in  the  restless  and  absorbing  work  of  an  itinerant  Methodist 
minister.  Most  of  his  time  was  spent  away  from  his  family 
at  the  various  points  on  his  circuit.  From  his  record  of  ser- 
mons preached  we  learn  that  his  preaching  appointments  were 
Goldsboro,  Everittsville,  Live  Oak,  Providence,  Falling  Creek, 
Indian  Springs,  Friendship,  Smith's  Chapel,  Ebenezer,  Salem, 
and  Pikeville.  Some  of  these  churches  were  out  in  the  pine 
woods,  and  attended  by  people  who  had  to  walk  or  ride  for 
miles  in  order  to  hear  the  gospel. 

In  the  opinion  of  some,  a  change  from  the  presidency  of  a 
college  to  a  Methodist  circuit  might  be  regarded  a  degrada- 
tion. Dr.  Deems  looked  upon  it  as  a  promotion,  and  flung 
himself  into  his  work  with  a  zest  and  ambition  never  excelled 
at  any  other  period  of  his  life.  He  preached  to  his  congre- 
gations in  the  villages  and  woods  of  the  Everittsville  circuit  in 
the  spirit  of  the  Master  as  he  poured  into  the  rapt  soul  of  the 
woman  at  Jacob's  well  the  wonderful  spiritual  truths  recorded 
in  the  fourth  chapter  of  John's  Gospel.  Nor  were  Dr.  Deems's 
labors  lessened  by  his  exchange  of  a  college  presidency  for  a 
circuit ;  the  rather  did  they  become  more  abundant  and  press- 
ing. No  greater  mistake  could  be  made  than  to  suppose  that 
the  life  of  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher  in  North  Carolina 
in  those  days  was  an  easy  one. 

On  some  circuits  the  preacher  finds  large  compensations  for 
his  trials  in  picturesque  scenery  and  invigorating  air ;  but  the 
Everittsville  circuit  was  not  favored  in  these  ways.  The  roads 
were  either  very  sandy  or  ran  through  swamps  whose  mud 
was  bottomless,  and  they  stretched  through  a  generally  flat  and 
uninteresting  country,  whose  monotony  was  somewhat  relieved 
by  vast  fields  of  green  and  waving  corn  or  glistening  white 
cotton.    Moreover,  in  summer  the  heat  was  intense  and  the 


124 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


air  freighted  with  malarial  gases  from  the  swamps.  Dr.  Deems 
found  his  compensation  in  his  joy  at  being  able  to  preach 
again,  and  in  the  keen  and  affectionate  appreciation  of  his 
labors  by  the  people  on  his  circuit,  among  whom  were  many 
bright  and  refined  women  and  able,  earnest,  prosperous,  hos- 
pitable, and  godly  men. 

Dr.  Deems  himself  gives  us  a  most  interesting  insight  into 
his  life  on  the  Everittsville  circuit  (1855-56)  in  a  letter  to  the 
"Raleigh  Christian  Advocate"  of  April  15,  1885,  written  on 
the  occasion  of  the  death  of  one  of  his  most  faithful  friends 
and  co-workers : 

"  A  few  weeks  ago  a  North  CaroHna  paper  brought  us  the 
announcement  of  the  death  of  David  B.  Everitt  in  Goldsboro. 
My  whole  family  felt  a  sudden  sorrow.  The  younger  mem- 
bers had  so  often  heard  their  parents  speak  in  loving  terms  of 
the  man  who  bore  that  name  that  they  felt  a  claim  to  be  his 
friends. 

"  When  I  quit  the  presidency  of  Greensboro  Female  Col- 
lege in  1854  I  was  sent  to  Everittsville  circuit.  I  think  that 
was  its  name,  although  it  embraced  Goldsboro.  There  I  met 
David  B.  Everitt.  His  plantation  was  some  miles  from  the 
village  which  bore  his  name,  where  he  lived  near  a  little  church 
which  was  one  of  the  preaching  appointments  on  the  circuit. 
We  were  not  long  in  becoming  fast  friends.  We  were  as  un- 
like in  body  and  mind  as  two  men  could  well  be,  and  perhaps 
therefore  we  loved  each  other.  He  was  very  large,  bluff,  loud 
of  speech,  sometimes  boisterous,  but  gentle  of  heart  as  a 
woman.  He  was  a  thorough  Methodist;  perhaps  he  was 
considered  by  some  a  bigoted  Methodist ;  but  he  was  simply 
a  brave,  conscientious,  earnest  soul— a  soul  that  had  been 
converted.  He  had  no  doubt  of  that ;  neither  had  any  of  his 
friends.  He  was  not  a  mere  church-member;  he  had  been 
converted.    He  no  more  doubted  it  than  he  doubted  his  birth. 


CIR  C  UI T-RIDING 


125 


Converted  under  Methodism,  he  knew  no  other  way.  But  he 
was  not  bigoted ;  he  had  friends  in  other  churches  and  he 
loved  and  honored  them— but  he  was  a  Methodist.  I  know 
men  of  that  type  among  Baptists,  Presbyterians,  and  Episco- 
pahans,  and  it  is  always  a  charming  type  to  me.  These  men 
do  not  deny  the  good  that  is  in  other  churches,  but  they  are 
not  familiar  with  it,  while  they  do  know  the  good  that  is  in 
their  own.  In  them  what  superficial  observers  take  for  igno- 
rance is  mere  innocence.  Of  all  guile,  malice,  meanness,  and 
uncharitableness  David  B.  Everitt  was  as  free  as  any  man  I 
ever  knew. 

"  And  then,  I  think  he  had  a  great  desire  to  know  the  truth. 
This  was  shown  in  whatever  interested  him.  Many  things  did 
not  interest  him ;  they  lay  beyond  his  circle  of  thought ;  but 
if  anything  did  attract  his  attention  he  was  earnestly  solicitous 
to  go  to  the  bottom  of  it.  He  could  listen  wonderfully  and 
question  closely. 

"  He  was  very  ardent  in  his  friendships,  and  steadfast. 
Within  three  miles  of  him  were  two  other  men,  his  intimates, 
William  Carraway  and  David  McKinne.  Such  another  trio 
I  never  knew  and  probably  never  shall  know.  They  were  so 
large  and  so  loud.  I  venture  a  sketch  to  show  the  character- 
istics of  these  men.  I  remember  the  first  time  I  saw  them 
together.  They  had  gone  down  to  Indian  Springs,  where  the 
new  preacher  was  to  hold  forth.  We  four  started  together  for 
Everittsville  and  brought  up  at  William  Carraway's.  In  the 
after-dinner  conversation  the  talk  turned  on  some  question  of 
the  yield  of  crops  on  their  several  plantations.  It  waxed 
warm.  Sometimes  all  three  talked  together.  Carraway  roared, 
McKinne  bellowed,  and  Everitt  yelled.  They  were  all  red  in 
the  face,  and  their  faces  were  very  large.  It  was  an  unhappy 
moment  for  me.  I  had  never  been  in  Mr.  Carraway's  house 
before,  Mr.  McKinne  I  had  just  met,  and  Mr.  Everitt  was  a 
recent  acquaintance.    What  should  I  do?    If  those  'bulls  of 


126 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Bashan '  locked  horns  what  was  I  ?  I  could  not  prevent  a 
general  fight.  And  just  from  church!  And  all  official  mem- 
bers of  the  church  of  which  I  was  pastor!  At  last  I  ven- 
tured very  meekly  to  suggest,  in  most  modest  terms,  that  the 
'  brethren '  might  all  be  right,  or  if  all  wrong,  was  it  really  a 
question  for  neighbors,  members  of  the  same  church,  to  be 
excited  about?  At  this  suggestion  they  all  looked  at  me,  and 
then  at  one  another,  and  then  burst  into  roars  of  laughter  that 
literally  jarred  the  house.  They  were  accustomed  to  '  chaff ' 
one  another  in  this  free,  rough  manner,  and  it  never  had  oc- 
curred to  them  that  a  stranger  might  take  it  for  quarreling. 
When  they  saw  from  my  face  that  I  did  regard  it  seriously, 
the  ludicrousness  of  the  situation  was  too  much  for  them.  Mr. 
Everitt  laughed  until  tears  ran  down  his  face. 

"  After  that,  how  often  I  have  seen  tears  on  those  great  faces, 
when  those  three  men  have  engaged  with  me  in  prayer  for 
the  spiritual  improvement  of  the  neighborhood  or  the  conver- 
sion of  some  special  neighbor!  And  they  have  all  crossed  the 
flood  before  me! 

"  Gentlest  at  heart  of  them  all,  perhaps,  was  David  B. 
Everitt.  How  much  I  have  desired  in  the  last  two  years  to 
see  him!  And  I  was  planning  to  enjoy  that  pleasure  when  the 
news  of  his  death  came.  I  have  seen  no  notice  of  his  last 
hours  and  heard  nothing.  It  is  not  needful  that  I  should. 
Such  a  man's  life,  of  gentleness  and  force,  of  cheerful  sobriety, 
of  fixed  principle,  of  humble,  happy  faith,  is  the  testimonial 
most  precious  to  his  friends.  May  some  other  in  his  church 
be  raised  to  take  his  place,  and  may  his  children  be  Christians 
after  the  manner  of  their  father!  Very  dear  to  me  forever 
will  be  the  cherished  name  of  David  B.  Everitt. 

"  Charles  F.  Deems. 

"Church  oi"  tiik  SiRANnicRS, 
"  March  31,  1885." 


CIRCUIT-RIDING 


127 


While  editor  of  "  Frank  Leslie's  Sunday  Magazine  "  in  New 
York  City,  many  years  afterward,  Dr.  Deems,  writing  of  an- 
other of  his  parishioners  of  a  very  different,  but  equally  inter- 
esting, type,  said : 

"  Some  years  ago,  among  the  churches  to  which  the  editor 
of  this  magazine  ministered  in  North  Carolina  was  one  called 
'Smith's  Chapel.'  It  would  seat  about  two  hundred  white 
and  one  hundred  colored  people.  But  in  that  climate  a  large 
part  of  the  year  a  considerable  portion  of  the  congregation 
sat  outside.  The  nearest  house  to  the  little  chapel  was  the 
dwelling  of  a  gentleman  who  was  one  of  the  most  famous 
school-teachers  in  his  native  State.  He  was  the  college-mate 
of  James  K.  Polk,  and  the  first  time  we  ever  saw  him  was 
when  he  had  just  completed  a  walk  of  fifty  miles  to  meet  his 
old  college  friend  at  the  university. 

"  Mr.  John  G.  Elliot  got  his  middle  initial  from  his  resem- 
blance to  a  ghost.  He  was  usually  known  as  '  Mr.  Ghost 
Elliot.'  Small,  thin,  washed  out  by  multitudinous  ablutions, 
built  after  the  architectural  design  of  an  interrogation-mark, 
with  a  disproportionately  large  head,  the  white  hair  on  which 
was  cropped  to  a  length  measured  exactly  by  the  thickness  of 
the  comb,  he  was  a  man  whose  appearance  attracted  attention 
everywhere.  In  some  departments  he  was  very  learned,  and 
his  solid  acquirements  dominated  his  eccentricities  and  won 
for  him  the  respect  of  a  large  class  of  citizens.  He  was  what 
the  colored  people  would  call  '  a  powerful  hearer  of  de  Word.' 
Upon  warm  days  he  would  walk  into  the  meeting-house,  throw 
his  coat,  if  he  had  one,  over  the  back  of  his  seat,  pull  off  his 
shoes  to  cool  his  understandmg,  and  propping  his  head  against 
his  left  hand  and  supporting  his  left  elbow  with  his  right  hand, 
he  set  himself  to  penetrate  the  speaker  with  auger  eyes.  The 
thing  his  soul  most  hated  was  nonsense.  He  had  no  kind  of 
reverence.    He  would  take  up  a  slave  or  the  Archbishop  of 


128 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Canterbury  with  equal  patience,  and  by  Socratic  methods  ex- 
hibit to  him  the  ridiculousness  of  his  errors. 

"  If  within  the  reach  of  practicability,  Mr.  Ghost  EUiot  was 
always  at  any  service  this  editor  held  within  his  range.  There 
are  readers  of  this  magazine  in  North  Carolina  who,  when 
they  peruse  this  article,  will  recollect  how  sometimes,  when  an 
assertion  had  been  roundly  made  by  the  preacher,  Mr.  Elliot 
would  rise  in  his  place  and  say,  '  Doctor,  what  is  supposed 
among  theologians  to  be  the  proof  of  that?  '  Or,  '  Doctor,  I 
have  heard  that  circumstance  stated  quite  differently.'  Or, 
'  Doctor,  that  statement  of  yours  has  been  publicly  denied  in 
the  papers.' 

"  There  was  no  laughing.  Mr.  Elliot  was  the  oracle  of  that 
neighborhood.  There  were  boys  about  there  whom  his  skep- 
tical ideas  had  infected ;  there  were  people  in  that  audience 
not  to  be  surpassed  in  what  is  called  '  a  Boston  audience ' ; 
and  Joseph  Cook  never  ran  a  severer  gantlet  in  the  Athens 
of  America  than  the  young  professor  from  the  university  ran 
in  that  chapel  in  the  pine  woods.  No  one  laughed  ;  every  one 
listened ;  and  if  Mr.  EUiot  had  frequently  got  the  better  of 
the  preacher  the  preacher's  occupation  would  have  been  gone. 

"  To  this  day  we  feel  the  healthy  influence  of  that  instanta- 
neous criticism.  To  this  day,  in  preaching  every  now  and 
then,  it  occurs  to  us  that  somewhere  in  the  church  there  may 
be  a  '  Ghost  Elliot,'  who  does  not  '  speak  out  in  meeting,'  but 
carries  the  objection  away  in  his  soul.  Would  it  not  be  bet- 
ter that  men  should  speak  out?  " 

Saturday  morning,  February  17,  1855,  Dr.  Deems  preached 
at  Salem.  While  driving  home  he  met  with  an  accident,  from 
which  he  suffered  greatly  and  by  which  he  was  confined  to 
tlie  house  for  about  two  weeks.  He  thus  speaks  of  this  ex- 
perience in  the  entry  in  his  diary  for  the  above  date :  "  Flung 
from  my  buggy  coming  home.  Badly  hurt,  but,  thank  God, 
preserved."    By  this  accident  his  ankle  was  sprained,  and  so 


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129 


seriously  as  to  trouble  him  all  his  life  thereafter.  During  his 
confinement  at  this  time  he  wrote  his  lecture  entitled  "  Trade 
Life,"  which  became  quickly  very  popular  in  North  Carohna 
and  the  neighboring  States.  It  was  while  returning  from 
Petersburg,  Va.,  where  he  had  been  for  the  purpose  of  deliver- 
ing this  lecture,  that  he  was  shocked  by  the  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  his  little  baby  boy,  George,  who  at  eleven  o'clock  at 
night  on  Wednesday,  March  14th,  had  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus. 
As  he  has  not  only  embalmed  the  precious  little  one's  memory, 
but  also  brought  out  an  interesting  truth  in  his  characteristic 
style,  in  an  article,  published  in  1880,  entitled  "The  Czar  and 
the  Babe,"  we  here  give  our  readers  the  article  in  full. 

"the  czar  and  the  babe 

"On  the  17th  of  March,  1855,  I  was  coming  from  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  to  my  home  in  North  Carolina.  In  the  car  was  a 
gentleman  with  New  York  papers  bearing  the  inteUigence  of 
the  recent  death  of  Nicholas,  autocrat  of  all  the  Russias.  He 
was  gone.  A  man  of  great  stature,  of  iron  will,  of  vast  ener- 
gies, a  born  king,  ruling  fifty  millions  by  his  simple  word,  he 
had  bowed  to  destiny  and  death  and  dropped  the  scepter  which 
swayed  an  empire.  He  had  died  at  a  crisis  in  which  he  was 
the  most  conspicuous  and  important  personage  among  men, 
at  such  a  juncture  in  affairs  as  will  draw  an  arresting  line  across 
the  page  of  human  history.  He  had  roused  the  world  to  arms. 
He  had  brought  thousands  into  fortified  towns  and  stretched 
tents  and  camp-fires  along  miles  of  hills  and  valleys.  The 
stride  of  his  ambition  had  made  troops  of  orphan  children  and 
thrilled  the  nation  with  woe.  He  was  known  to  all  the  world, 
and  his  history,  his  words,  his  deeds,  his  policy,  were  the  study 
of  all  who  read  or  thought.  But  he  had  gone.  Europe  stood 
still  and  held  its  breath  as  the  curtain  dropped  upon  the  co- 
lossal actor  on  a  stage  trembling  with  the  thunder  of  artillery 


130 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


and  red  with  the  gore  of  the  gallant.  And  then  the  cabinets 
of  all  governments,  and  the  traders  upon  the  marts  of  the 
busy  nations,  began  industriously  to  calculate  the  probable 
effects  of  this  great  departure  upon  all  the  operations  of  man- 
kind ;  and  Russia  was  preparing  to  bury  the  '  father '  with 
mingled  barbaric  pomp  and  civilized  splendor. 

"  I  was  not  indifferent  to  the  importance  of  such  an  event 
as  the  death  of  the  emperor,  but  it  stirred  my  heart  very  little. 
/  was  far  off. 

"  Twenty  miles  farther  south  I  heard  of  another  death.  In 
this  case  it  was  a  babe  only  ten  months  old.  He  was  heir  to 
no  great  estate  or  title.  He  was  known  to  very  few,  and  very 
few  had  any  interest  in  him ;  he  had  never  uttered  a  word. 
He  was  in  no  one's  way.  His  life  made  no  great  promise. 
He  had  always  been  delicate.  He  was  a  mere  intelligent, 
'pretty  little  fellow,'  as  his  father  was  fond  of  calling  him. 
He  was  dead.  How  sad,  how  very  sad  a  thought  was  this  to 
me!     He  was  'our  little  George.' 

"  All  the  potentates  of  Europe  might  have  died  and  my  heart 
have  felt  no  pain.  But  this  was  a  near  grief.  This  was  the 
first  departure  from  the  little  flock.  There  was  no  pomp  at 
his  funeral.  He  lay  calm  and  lovely  in  his  little  coffin — beau- 
tifully dead.  His  brothers  and  his  little  sister  stood  in  the 
awe  which  the  first  invasion  of  the  invisible  feet  makes  in  a 
family.  A  few  friends  went  from  the  humble  house  of  the 
bereaved  living  to  the  humble  resting-place  of  the  shrouded 
dead.  No  retinue,  no  plumes,  no  emblazonry  of  ostentatious 
sorrow,  marked  the  child's  removal  to  his  last  home. 

"  But  he  was  our  babe.  How  little  thought  his  mother  of 
the  grand  griefs  of  a  European  empire !  Her  little  kingdom 
was  darkened.  While  we  had  read  accounts  of  the  slaughters 
which  marked  the  Crimean  campaign,  and  shuddered  at  the 
desolations  they  must  have  brought  thousands  of  homes,  none 
of  the  thrilling  reports  had  penetrated  and  agonized  us  like  the 


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131 


sight  of  our  own  dead.  Nothing  I  ever  read  or  saw  or  felt 
transfixed  me  with  such  cold  pain  as  the  kiss  of  the  little  hands 
folded  over  the  heart  of  our  serene  and  breathless  boy.  They 
were  beautiful  hands.  How  often  I  had  admired  them  as  he 
clapped  them  when  his  earnest  gaze  had  brightened  into  a 
smile  and  broadened  into  infantile  glee!  How  often  had  they 
pressed  their  soft  little  palms  upon  my  aching  head,  and  buried 
their  little  dimples  under  my  chin!  Death  had  not  discolored 
the  lovely  flesh,  but  had  made  it  clearer  and  finer,  as  if  it  had 
been  purged  of  all  taints  of  corruption.  And  so  I  could  hardly 
believe  him  dead.  But  when  I  stooped  to  kiss  those  hands 
for  the  last  time  they  met  my  lips  with  such  an  unexpected 
chill  that  I  felt  stricken.  It  was  as  though  I  had  been  stabbed 
in  the  heart  with  a  dagger  of  ice. 

"Oh,  how  different  the  far  and  the  near!  A  quarter  of  a 
century  lies  between  that  death  and  this  writing,  but  that  dead 
babe  to-day  has  more  power  over  me  than  any  living  man. 
He  walks  the  streets  with  me.  He  goes  to  all  the  funerals  of 
infants.  Before  his  death  I  did  not  know  how  to  talk  at  the 
funeral  of  a  babe.  Now  I  know  at  least  how  to  sympathize 
with  the  parents.  When  a  man  comes  into  my  house  and 
tells  me  with  quivering  lips  that  there  is  a  baby  lying  dead  in 
his  home,  I  go  with  him,  led  by  the  hand  of  a  little  child 
whose  mortal  body  was  buried  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago. 

"  Charles  F.  Deems." 

During  the  month  of  May  a  fruitful  revival  of  religion  re- 
warded Dr.  Deems's  work  at  his  Indian  Springs  appointment. 
Thirty-four  were  added  to  the  church.  Of  those  added  more 
than  half  were  heads  of  families,  and  quite  a  number  were 
past  middle  hfe.  Dr.  Deems  baptized  twenty  of  these  con- 
verts, eleven  of  whom  he  immersed  in  the  river.  It  was  a 
most  gracious  season,  in  which  some  signal  victories  were 
achieved  by  the  Holy  Spirit's  conversion  of  persons  regarded 


132 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


as  hopelessly  ungodly.  Similar  works  of  grace  occurred  in 
other  portions  of  the  circuit,  which  were  most  cheering  to  the 
faithful  pastor. 

About  this  time,  greatly  to  his  gratification,  he  was  invited 
to  preach  the  commencement  sermon  at  Greensboro  Female 
College.  This,  on  May  15th,  he  did  most  acceptably,  and 
while  in  Greensboro  at  commencement  he  was  honored  by 
being  made  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  college. 

From  Greensboro  he  made  a  visit  to  Glenanna.  This 
was  a  seminary  for  young  ladies  which  Dr.  Deems  founded 
while  he  was  president  of  Greensboro  College  and  owned  and 
supervised  for  a  number  of  years.  The  object  of  the  school 
was  to  prepare  young  ladies  for  college,  especially  for  Greens- 
boro College.  It  was  situated  in  Davidson  County,  one  mile 
from  Thomasville,  which  was  on  the  Central  Railroad.  The 
location  was  picturesque  and  healthful,  and  the  school  was  a 
center  of  refined  culture  and  influence.  While  this  school  was 
a  care  and  responsibility  to  Dr.  Deems  during  his  itinerancy, 
yet  it  was  a  source  of  intense  gratification  that  while  preaching 
he  was  also  teaching  for  the  Master. 

Notwithstanding  the  inevitable  interruptions  in  his  life  on 
the  Everittsville  circuit,  he  did  considerable  writing  for  the 
press,  and  in  September  published  a  new  edition  of  his  "  Twelve 
College  Sermons."  An  idea  of  the  public  estimate  of  this 
book  may  be  gained  from  the  following  criticism  by  the 
"  Home  Circle,"  of  Nashville,  Tenn. : 

"  Dr.  Deems  is  one  of  the  most  racy  writers  of  our  acquain- 
tance, and  the  public  will  expect  to  find  in  this  volume  a  fine 
specimen  of  correct  and  elegant  rhetoric.  In  this  they  will 
not  be  disappointed ;  but  they  will  find  that  its  helks-lettres 
merits  are,  as  they  should  be,  the  merest  accessories  to  the 
great  end  of  preaching.  When  it  became  known  to  us  that 
these  discourses  were  produced  by  a  very  young  professor  of 
bclles-kttrcs,  which  the  author  was  at  the  time  of  their  com- 


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133 


position,  we  expected  to  find  in  them  an  undue  amount  of 
'  fine  writing.'  We  were  agreeably  disappointed.  If  there  be 
anything  of  the  sort  in  them,  it  is  not  more  than  the  reader 
will  relish ;  and  we  feel  bound  to  say  that,  as  far  as  we  have 
observed,  every  artificial  merit  that  they  possess  promotes  the 
religious  purpose  of  the  sermons.  Every  rill  that  sparkles 
through  them  helps  to  swell  the  tide  of  the  author's  exhorta- 
tion ;  every  vine  has  its  cluster ;  every  flower  brings  fruit." 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Dr.  Deems  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Sprague,  of  Albany,  the  letter  referring  to  Summerfield  quoted 
in  the  autobiographical  notes.  By  both  pen  and  tongue  he 
also  did  all  in  his  power  to  assist  the  cause  of  temperance,  so 
dear  to  his  heart  from  his  youth,  being  an  ardent  advocate  of 
legal  prohibition,  and  being  greatly  in  demand  as  a  lecturer  on 
this  theme.  His  temperance  oration  delivered  in  the  hall  of 
the  South  Carolina  Institute  at  Charleston,  on  June  6th,  elic- 
ited from  the  press  the  most  glowing  encomiums. 

From  his  diary  we  learn  that  on  Saturday,  June  23d,  Dr. 
Deems  delivered  a  masonic  address  at  Long  Creek,  Duplin 
County,  having  been  invited  to  do  so  by  his  masonic  friends 
in  that  region.  He  had  been  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of 
Master  Mason  by  the  Greensboro  Lodge,  No.  76,  on  October 
4,  1852.  He  had  been  made  a  Fellow-craft  Mason  by  the 
same  lodge  on  September  7,  1852.  The  record  of  his  being 
made  an  Entered  Apprentice  Mason  has  been  misplaced. 
For  the  above  facts  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  W.  D.  Trotter,  of 
Greensboro,  N.  C,  who  was  Worthy  Master  of  the  lodge  in 
1884.  Dr.  Deems  kept  up  his  interest  in  masonry  all  his  life, 
taking  the  degrees  beyond  the  "  Blue  Lodge  "  as  far  up  as  the 
commandery.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of 
Kane  Lodge,  Crescent  Chapter,  and  Palestine  Commandery, 
all  of  New  York  City,  and  in  all  of  which  he  was  for  years 
chaplain.  Among  his  many  friends  Dr.  Deems  had  none 
more  faithful  and  enthusiastic  than  his  masonic  brethren.  In 


134 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


1 846  he  had  become  an  Odd  Fellow,  but  he  did  not  keep  up 
active  membership. 

Fever  and  ague,  eye  troubles,  and  other  physical  ailments 
annoyed  him  exceedingly  during  the  latter  half  of  1855,  but 
do  not  appear  to  have  cooled  his  zeal  or  lessened  his  labors. 
On  July  loth  he  wrote  the  prospectus  of  the  "  North  Carolina 
Christian  Advocate " ;  on  Sunday,  July  29th,  he  dedicated 
Smith's  Chapel,  Wayne  County ;  in  September  he  commenced 
work  on  "The  Annals  of  Southern  Methodism,"  of  which 
more  will  be  said  later ;  and  attended  the  Annual  Conference  in 
Wilmington,  N.  C,  Wednesday,  November  14th,  where,  among 
other  things,  he  delivered  an  address  on  "  Education,"  and  was 
reappointed  to  the  Everittsville  circuit. 

Leaving  Goldsboro  on  Saturday,  December  ist,  Dr.  Deems 
went  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  to  attend  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Virginia  Conference,  at  which  Bishop  Andrew  presided.  The 
business  which  took  him  to  this  meeting  was  of  a  most  painful 
nature ;  although  only  thirty-five  years  old,  he  was  to  be  one 
of  the  principal  figures  in  an  important  and  complicated  ec- 
clesiastical trial.  As  the  chief  personages  involved  are  dead 
and  in  heaven,  and  as  they  forgave  one  another  before  their 
death  any  and  all  real  or  imagined  injuries  they  had  sustained, 
and  as  a  complete  account  of  the  affair  would  fill  a  volume, 
we  see  nothing  to  be  gained  by  giving  names  or  going  into 
details.  But  to  ignore  altogether  what  is  history,  and  what 
at  the  time  excited  the  Methodist  Church,  South,  more  than 
any  other  controversy  (that  concerning  slavery  excepted), 
would  be  a  fatal  omission  in  any  biographical  account  of 
Charles  F,  Deems,  who,  though  the  innocent  cause  of  it  all, 
became  thereby  involved  in  a  miserable  tangle  of  miscon- 
ception, misrepresentation,  and  malicious  persecution,  which, 
while  it  temporarily  clouded  his  reputation  in  certain  quarters, 
yet  stimulated  the  development  of  his  mental  and  moral  char- 
acter and  enabled  him  to  present  to  those  who  followed  him 


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186 


closely  through  the  long,  hot  trial — and  they  were  thousands — 
a  splendid  example  of  moral  courage,  unswerving  integrity, 
Christian  forbearance,  and  fearless  candor.  On  Tuesday, 
December  i8th.  Dr.  Deems  delivered  his  closing  argument  in 
the  case.  This  address  was  in  many  particulars  the  master- 
piece of  his  life.  It  was  four  hours  long,  but  was  heard  with 
breathless  attention  by  the  vast  congregation  assembled. 
When  the  vote  of  conference  was  taken  the  defendant  in  the 
trial  was  acquitted  by  a  bare  majority  of  his  brethren. 

Nevertheless  Dr.  Deems  found  that  he  had  suddenly  leaped 
to  a  lofty  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  people  of  the  South  as 
being  an  able,  eloquent,  and  godly  man.  In  Petersburg  itself, 
although  he  had  been  the  prosecutor  in  the  trial  of  an  eminent 
doctor  of  divinity  in  the  Virginia  Conference,  he  received  a 
remarkable  ovation,  costly  family  Bibles  and  elegantly  bound 
hymn-books  and  glowing  resolutions  and  elaborate  silver 
plate  being  the  visible  tokens  of  the  popular  verdict. 

When  he  returned  to  North  Carolina  he  was  received  like  a 
conqueror ;  and  such  he  was,  but  greater  than  the  victor  in  any 
bloody  battle,  for  he  had  by  his  courage,  self-control,  and 
splendid  genius  won  a  victory  for  public  truth  and  justice. 
From  every  part  of  the  State,  from  Weldon  to  Wilmington, 
from  Goldsboro  to  Greensboro,  public  meetings  were  held  and 
resolutions  were  passed,  and  the  name  of  Charles  F.  Deems 
became  a  household  word  throughout  all  her  borders,  and  so 
remains  to  this  day.  The  older  children  in  Dr.  Deems's  family 
well  remember  the  opening  of  a  box  which  came  a  few  weeks 
after  the  Virginia  Conference  adjourned,  and  was  addressed  to 
the  Rev.  Charles  F.  Deems.  The  brilliant  contents  when  set 
forth  were  dazzling  to  our  young  eyes.  The  box  contained  a 
very  beautiful  and  costly  service  of  silver  plate.  With  painful 
eagerness  we  deciphered  the  following  inscription  :  "  Presented 
by  the  citizens  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  to  Charles  F.  Deems,  Doc- 
tor of  Divinity,  '  in  the  dew  of  his  youth,'  as  an  evidence  of 


136 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


their  appreciation  of  his  virtuous  hfe  and  exalted  worth,  and 
especially  as  a  memento  of  their  admiration  of  his  moral  cour- 
age, his  powers  of  speech,  his  Christian  spirit,  as  displayed  by 

him  on  the  trial  of  before  the  Annual  Conference 

of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  in  Petersburg,  Va., 
in  1855." 

We  remember  also  the  advent  of  a  large  and  splendidly 
bound  copy  of  the  Holy  Bible,  on  the  fly-leaf  of  which  was 
this  inscription:  "Rev.  Charles  F.  Deems,  D.D. :  Accept  the 
Holy  Bible  as  a  token  of  esteem  and  affection.  May  a  good 
and  merciful  God  long  spare  your  life,  and  may  you  continue 
to  be,  as  you  have  been,  a  faithful  and  able  expounder  and 
defender  of  its  sacred  truths ;  and  may  it  ever  be  a  lamp  unto 
your  feet  and  a  light  unto  your  pathway,  guiding  you  to 
heaven,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  the  givers.  Petersburg,  Va., 
December  18,  1855." 

That  prayer  was  answered  in  every  particular  and  to  the 
uttermost.  Upon  the  volume  was  laid  a  sumptuously  bound 
copy  of  the  hymns  of  the  Southern  Methodist  Church,  with  the 
following  note :  "  This  little  volume  is  gratefully  presented  to 
Dr.  Deems  as  a  tribute  to  his  splendid  talents,  Christian  purity, 
and  gentlemanly  bearing  through  this  trying  controversy.  The 
following  ladies  are  proud  to  bear  testimony  in  his  favor  and 
to  subscribe  themselves  his  admirers."  The  ladies  of  Peters- 
burg, after  their  names,  signed  themselves,  "  Members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church." 

In  the  corner  of  the  parlor  of  the  little  Goldsboro  parsonage 
stood  a  goodly  number  of  ebony  canes  with  gold  heads,  bear- 
ing each  the  name  of  Charles  F.  Deems,  D.D.,  the  name  of 
the  donor,  the  date  of  the  gift,  and  an  indication  that  it  was 
an  expression  of  appreciation  of  the  genius  and  character  of 
the  recipient,  especially  as  brought  out  at  the  Virginia  Con- 
ference of  1855. 

And  so  It  came  about  that  a  year  which  at  one  time 


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137 


threatened  to  close  with  dark  clouds  closed  flooded  with 
sunshine. 

Sometime  during  1855  Dr.  Deems  conceived  the  idea  of 
"The  Annals  of  Southern  Methodism,"  and  during  the  latter 
part  of  1855  and  in  1856  and  1857  he  pubhshed  an  annual  vol- 
ume of  about  three  hundred  pages  with  that  title.  The  author's 
purpose  was  to  furnish  once  each  year  a  volume  which  should 
present  in  a  collected  form  all  that  was  desirable  for  full  in- 
formation in  regard  to  the  workings  and  growth  of  the  Southern 
Methodist  Church.  The  titles  of  the  chapters  of  the  volume 
for  1856  are  as  follows:  "The  Episcopacy";  "The  Annual 
Conferences  "  ;  "  Dedication  of  Churches  " ;  "  Missions  " ; 
"  Colleges  and  Schools  "  ;  "  Sunday-schools  " ;  "  Tract  Soci- 
ety "  ;  "  Southern  Methodist  Literature  "  ;  "  Our  People  of 
Color";  "Historical  Sketches";  "Biographical  Sketches"; 
"  Personal  Notices  of  the  Living  "  ;  and  "  Miscellaneous."  The 
editor  gleaned  his  information  from  a  multitude  of  books,  pe- 
riodicals, and  persons,  at  the  cost  of  much  time  and  tedious 
toil.  Four  volumes  came  out,  which  by  their  variety,  logical 
arrangement,  and  accuracy  of  detail  showed  what  a  many- 
sided  mind  the  editor  possessed.  In  reviewing  the  volume  for 
1855,  the  "  Home  Circle,"  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  said:  "There 
can  be  no  sort  of  doubt  about  the  success  of  this  book.  It 
will  have  an  enormous  circulation.  One  can  scarcely  think 
of  a  question  in  the  last  year's  history  of  Southern  Methodism 
which  is  not  answered  here.  The  idea  of  making  an  annual 
contribution  of  this  sort  to  our  literature  is  a  happy  conception. 
Another  egg  stands  on  end!  How  can  we,  after  this,  do 
without  it?  Why  was  it  not  thought  of  sooner?  The  edi- 
tor's rare  talents  and  tireless  industry  have  been  worthily  em- 
ployed, and  he  is  entitled  to  our  thanks— not  so  much  for  the 
copy  sent  us  (we  could  have  bought  it  cheap  at  five  times  the 
cost,  one  dollar),  but  for  the  invention  of  the  thing  and  for 
the  promise  of  an  annual  series." 


138 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


By  request,  Dr.  Deems  attended  the  commencement  exer- 
cises at  Hampden-Sidney  College,  Virginia,  in  1856.  On  June 
25th  he  delivered  before  the  Philanthropic  Society  a  lecture 
on  "The  True  Basis  of  Manhood."  While  he  had  delivered 
other  lectures,  this  one  first  attracted  public  attention  to  Dr. 
Deems  as  a  lecturer.  The  "  American  Phrenological  Journal," 
in  its  sketch  of  Dr.  Deems's  life,  states  that  "  of  this  effort  a 
distinguished  logician  of  the  South  said,  '  It  shows  the  highest 
capabilities  as  a  thinker  and  a  writer.' " 

Dr.  Deems's  interest  in  education  was  so  great,  his  experi- 
ence so  wide  and  varied,  and  his  talents  as  an  orator  so  con- 
spicuous, that  he  was  in  great  demand  every  summer  at  the 
various  college  and  school  commencements.  These  visits  to 
educational  institutions  did  not  interfere  with  his  regular  work 
on  the  circuit,  which  was  prosecuted  with  vigor  and  success, 
while  he  continued  to  win  souls  and  build  up  saints  on  their 
most  holy  foundation. 

On  September  30,  1856,  his  heart  and  home  were  gladdened 
by  the  birth  of  his  sixth  child,  a  daughter,  who  was  named 
Anna  Louise.  All  who  knew  Dr.  Deems  when  living  remem- 
ber his  fondness  for  babes.  He  always  took  them  in  his 
arms  when  administering  the  holy  sacrament  of  baptism  and 
kissed  them.  The  little  ones  ever  seemed  by  instinct  to  rec- 
ognize in  him  a  friend,  and  it  was  most  unusual  for  a  child  to 
refuse  to  get  into  his  outstretched  arms. 


CHAPTER  IV 


THE  WILMINGTON  PARISH,  1857-58 

THE  North  Carolina  Annual  Conference  for  1856  was 
held  in  Greensboro  from  November  12th  to  November 
20th.  Bishop  Early  presided.  Dr.  Deems  was  appointed  to 
the  Front  Street  Methodist  Church  in  Wilmington.  The  Rev. 
D.  B.  Nicholson  was  presiding  elder  of  Wilmington  district, 
and  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  Dr.  Deems,  as  were 
all  of  the  Nicholson  family. 

Wilmington  was  then,  as  it  is  now,  the  metropolis  of  the 
State  and  an  important  center  of  influence,  because  of  its  situ- 
ation on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  with  a  commodious  harbor  and 
extensive  internal  navigation  and  railway  connections.  The 
Front  Street  Church  was  one  of  the  strongest  stations  in  the 
conference,  which  paid  Dr.  Deems  a  high  compliment  when 
it  sent  him  there.  He  entered  upon  his  work  in  January, 
1856.  To  the  gratification  of  all  concerned,  he  was  reap- 
pointed to  the  Front  Street  Church  by  the  conference  which 
met  at  Goldsboro  in  December,  1857. 

The  Front  Street  Church  was  a  spacious  building,  situated 
on  a  comer  and  in  a  desirable  part  of  the  city.  It  had  galleries 
which  were  always  reserved  for  the  colored  people  of  the 
congregation,  for  whom  the  doctor  also  held  special  Sunday 
afternoon  services,  and  among  whom  he  quickly  became 
popular.  The  membership,  already  large,  greatly  increased 
139 


140 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


during  the  two  years  of  his  pastorate.  Into  the  work  of  or- 
ganization, pastoral  visitation,  and  preaching  he  here  flung 
himself  with  characteristic  energy  and  ability.  Invitations  to 
preach  at  revival  services,  to  address  schools  and  colleges  and 
other  institutions,  poured  in  upon  him,  and  his  letters  during 
these  two  years  show  how  frequently  he  had  to  decline  such 
calls.  But  to  a  few  of  them  he  responded  favorably,  because 
of  special  claims  upon  him— as  in  the  cases  of  the  Goldsboro 
and  Greensboro  female  colleges. 

Not  long  after  the  home  was  established  in  Wilmington  a 
little  incident  occurred  which  is  of  interest  and  might  have  had 
a  tragic  conclusion.  His  family,  fearing  a  breakdown  from 
overwork,  persuaded  him  to  tear  himself  away  from  his  studies 
and  other  toils  and  go  fishing  with  his  three  sons.  Accordingly, 
one  day  the  little  party  of  four,  armed  with  fishing-rods  and 
supplied  with  luncheon,  tramped  up  to  Hilton  Bridge  on  the 
Cape  Fear  River.  While  they  were  strung  along  the  bank 
and  watching  their  corks  with  eager  expectancy,  their  father 
ambitiously  attempted  to  walk  across  some  logs  lying  in  the 
water  and  thus  reach  a  very  "  fishy  "-looking  place  in  the  river. 
But  alas!  one  of  the  logs  turned  with  him,  and  in  he  plunged, 
going  in  over  his  head.  While  the  youngest  of  his  sons  wept 
and  wrung  his  hands,  the  two  older  boys  with  great  diflSculty 
managed  to  get  their  father  on  shore.  But  he  was  drenched, 
and  had  to  walk  some  miles  in  wet  clothing;  moreover,  this 
experience  brought  on  sickness,  from  which  Dr.  Deems  took 
months  to  recover.  It  is  to  this  incident  that  he  alludes  in  the 
following  article,  which  appeared  in  the  "  Christian  Intelligen- 
cer," November  30,  1892,  and  which  we  insert  as  showing  his 
opinions  and  habits  with  regard  to  hunting  and  fishing.  To 
the  best  of  our  knowledge  and  belief,  Dr.  Deems  never  fired  a 
pistol  or  shot-gun  in  his  life ;  he  had  neither  time  nor  taste 
for  entrapping  or  slaying  the  inhabitants  of  the  woods  and 
waters. 


THE  IVILMINGTON  PARISH 


141 


"what  I  KNOW  ABOUT  FISHING 

"  From  what  I  have  accomplished  in  the  piscatory  hne,  if 
any  one  should  infer  'what  I  know  about  fishing,'  he  would 
conclude  that  I  was  as  well  up  on  that  subject  as  my  old  friend 
Horace  Greeley  was  on  another,  when  he  wrote  '  What  I 
Know  about  Farming,'  and  allowed  people  to  see  his  Chap- 
paqua  farm. 

"  My  two  boys,  who  now  have  sons  that  can  fish,  I  think 
could  tell  of  a  time,  years  ago,  when  they  went  with  their 
father  a-fishing  in  the  Cape  Fear  River ;  and  how  he  trod  upon 
a  loose  log  and  went  a-ducking,  and  had  to  walk  home  in  wet 
clothes,  and  on  the  way  caught  a  cold,  which  was  the  only 
catch  of  that  expedition. 

"  Long  since  then,  after  eight  years  of  constant  labor  in  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers,  I  went  one  winter  to  St.  Augustine, 
and,  just  for  a  total  change  of  employment,  one  day  took  a 
canoe  and  went  fishing  on  the  river.  I  had  never  read  a  page 
on  the  subject  and  I  had  had  no  personal  instructions,  but  as 
rapidly  as  I  could  drop  my  line  into  the  water  up  came  a  fish, 
until  I  had  all  I  could  well  carry  back  to  the  hotel.  That 
was  phenomenal.  The  fish  seemed  to  want  to  jump  into  my 
canoe.  I  could  not  understand  it.  I  am  not  superstitious, — 
I  belong  to  the  Thirteen  Club,— but  from  that  day  until  the 
summer  of  1892  I  have  taken  no  part  in  the  original  business 
of  the  apostles. 

"  But  last  summer,  after  a  month  of  twenty-two  lectures 
and  speeches  in  thirty  days,  I  did  what  never  occurred  before 
in  my  ministry  of  fifty-three  years — when  I  was  not  sick  and 
not  out  of  the  country:  I  spared  the  churches  three  whole 
Sundays.  In  all  that  space  of  time  I  did  not  speak  in  public ; 
I  hardly  had  strength  and  sense  enough  to  pray  in  private. 
But  I  was  on  Dr.  Bethune's  old  fishing-grounds,  and  worship- 


142 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


ing  in  the  church  which  stands  to  his  blessed  memory,  and— 
I  went  fishing.  I  went  once  with  a  beloved  friend  and  twice 
with  my  beloved  self.    The  results  were  as  follows : 

"i.  I  caught  a  fish.  Mark  'a  fish' — one  fish,  only  one, 
and  that  was  not  very  large.  Brethren  of  the  rod,  is  it  not  a 
triumph  of  grace  that  I  am  able  to  tell  the  exact  truth  on  such 
a  subject? 

"2.  I  caught  another  fish.  While  the  first  came  to  me  in 
a  normal  manner,  the  latter  was  hooked  by  the  tail.  My 
only  theory  for  this  is  that  that  fool  fish  was  just  flouncing 
around  in  the  neighborhood  of  my  hook  and  got  caught  in 
that  ignominious  manner.  Another  possible  theory  is  that  he 
looked  at  my  hook  and  bait,  and  desired  to  express  his  con- 
tempt for  the  whole  concern,  and  in  flirting  away  struck  the 
wrong  place  with  his  tail. 

"  3.  But  I  caught  a  thought  or  two  about  fishing,  and  that 
being  all  the  rest  of  my  game,  I  frankly  express  it  to  you. 

"  What  is  the  object  of  fishing?  There  is  but  one  which 
can  satisfy  a  highly  rational  and  deeply  conscientious  nature, 
and  that  is  to  obtain  food  for  one's  self  or  for  some  one  else. 
To  fish  for  any  other  purpose  must  be  both  foolish  and  wrong. 
I  ask  myself  this  question :  Am  I  so  small  in  resources  that  I 
cannot  amuse  myself  without  inflicting  pain  upon  a  fellow- 
creature?  And  then  I  reflect  upon  the  prevalence  of  the  slurs 
that  are  made  upon  the  veracity  of  fishermen.  I  believe  they 
generally  take  the  form  of  ridiculing  the  reports  made  of  the 
number  of  fishes,  or  of  the  size,  or  of  both.  There  may  have 
been  occasions  when  my  brethren  of  the  rod  have  yielded  to  a 
temptation  in  that  direction,  but  if  so,  I  think  I  caught  on  the 
bank  of  that  Manhattan  Island  which  is  in  the  great  St.  Law- 
rence River  something  which  may  be  morally  helpful  to  all 
my  brethren  in  moments  of  violent  temptation. 

"  Settle  it  with  yourself  once  for  all  that  the  number  of  fish 
caught  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  importance,  the  grandeur, 


THE  WILMINGTON  PARISH 


143 


the  beauty,  or  the  utility  of  fishing.  Let  it  be  understood  that 
when  one  goes  fishing  there  is  an  object  one  has  in  view 
higher  than  all  kinds  and  any  number  of  fish,  and  that  that 
object  is  the  better  secured  the  longer  time  he  is  out  and  the 
fewer  the  fish  he  may  catch.  Going  a-fishing  does  not  at  all 
necessarily  involve  the  bringing  home  of  fish.  That  may  be 
an  incidental,  but  it  ought  to  be  made  a  subordinate,  con- 
sideration. In  every  case,  where  a  man  is  not  actually  trying 
to  get  his  food,  holding  a  rod  over  the  water  on  the  bank  of  a 
river  or  lake,  outdoors,  hour  by  hour,  without  hurling  up  the 
swimmers  in  the  water,  is  very  far  from  being  a  bad  business. 
Its  success  depends  upon  the  fewness  of  the  fish  caught  and 
the  length  of  time  one  has  to  wait. 

"  Just  settle  that  as  a  fundamental  principle  of  your  philos- 
ophy and  you  have  gained  much.  A  quick  catch  would  spoil 
the  whole  thing,  and  many  fish  would  knock  the  bottom  out 
of  the  whole  business.  This  was  my  summer  discovery, 
namely,  that  going  a-fishing  does  not  involve  catching  any  fish 
whatever.  The  relation  of  fish  to  going  a-fishing  is  of  the 
most  abstract  possible  character.  Any  fellow  can  have  a 
lovely  old  time  catching  the  biggest  fish  in  a  couple  of  hours, 
but  he  may  come  back  morally  no  better  than  when  he  started. 
Not  so  the  fisherman  who  for  six  hours  never  budges  and 
comes  back  with  no  more  in  his  basket  than  he  took  out. 
Morally,  he  must  be  better  as  a  man,  and  this  can  be  shown 
to  be  the  case  philosophically.  If  there  were  time  I  believe 
I  could  prove  this  merely  on  the  doctrine  of  conservation  of 
energy,  but  I  forbear. 

"  I  caught  one  story  which  illustrates  my  theory.  A  boy 
was  on  the  bank,  and  a  man  came  by. 

"  '  Why,  what  are  you  doing?  ' 

"  '  Fishing,'  replied  the  boy. 

"  '  Been  at  it  long?  ' 

"  '  Four  hours,'  the  boy  did  say. 


144 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  '  Caught  anything?  ' 
"'Yep.' 
" '  What?  ' 
"  '  Patience.' 

"  The  gentleman,  who  was  a  railroad  man,  immediately 
employed  that  boy  at  twelve  dollars  a  week  and  his  board  to 
take  charge  of  the  information  bureau  at  a  neighboring  sta- 
tion on  the  trunk-line." 

Among  Dr.  Deems's  letters  was  found  one  written  from 
Wilmington,  N.  C,  and  dated  August  31,  1857.  It  is  ad- 
dressed to  his  friend  the  Hon.  John  A.  Gilmer,  of  Greensboro. 
After  congratulating  Mr.  Gilmer  on  his  recent  election  to  Con- 
gress, Dr.  Deems  goes  on  to  confer  with  him  as  to  the  sale  of 
Aunt  Rachel,  the  colored  cook.  This  extract  is  deeply  inter- 
esting and  significant  as  showing  the  relations  which  existed 
between  the  Southern  master  and  slave.  No  satisfactory 
purchaser  appearing,  Aunt  Rachel  and  Uncle  Henry  continued 
to  live  in  the  Deems  family  until  her  death. 

"  You  know  that  I  own  a  woman  whose  husband  belongs 
to  General  Gray,  of  Randolph.  I  hire  Henry  to  keep  him 
with  his  wife,  and  then  hire  him  out  here  to  pay  me  back. 
But  it  is  a  risk,  and  next  year  I  may  be  stationed  where  I 
cannot  get  a  situation  for  him.  So  I  would  Hke  to  sell  Rachel 
to  a  good  master  in  your  county.  I  do  not  wish  to  separate 
tliem.  And  then,  my  dear  friend,  I  am  probably  too  poor  to 
own  her.  I  have  not  sought  lucrative  stations  in  the  church, 
you  know.  I  have  worked  hard,  spent  my  time  and  talents 
to  build  up  the  church  in  North  Carolina,  given  freely,  helped 
to  educate  other  people's  children,  and  if  I  were  sold  out  and 
my  debts  paid  perhaps  I  might  give  each  of  my  own  five 
children  twenty-five  dollars  apiece.  At  nearly  thirty-seven 
years  of  age  this  is  rather  a  gloomy  prospect,  isn't  it?  It 
would  be  if  it  were  not  for  the  reflection  that  I  have  endea- 


THE  WILMINGTON  PARISH 


145 


vored  to  do  good,  live  unselfishly,  and  have  faith  in  the  final 
rewards. 

"  But  to  return  to  Aunt  Rachel.  She  is  a  nice  woman,  has 
improved  much  since  she  came  to  me,  and  would  readily  bring 
twelve  hundred  dollars  from  the  speculators  here  ;  but  I  would 
not  sell  her  to  them,  nor,  indeed,  would  I  either  sacrifice  my 
interests  or  let  her  go  to  a  master  who  would  not  serve  her 
properly.  It  has  occurred  to  me  that  if  you  knew  any  gen- 
tleman who  wants  a  good,  honest,  faithful  woman  for  his  lot, 
who  lives  within  range  of  General  Gray,  say  in  Davidson, 
Guilford,  or  Randolph,  I  would  sell  her  for  something  in  the 
neighborhood  of  nine  or  ten  hundred  dollars.  And  if  I  could 
sell  her  in  that  vicinity  to  a  good  master,  it  would  be  doing 
her  a  service  and  enable  me  to  '  square  off '  matters.  She  and 
her  husband  are  very  loath  to  hear  me  speak  of  parting  with 
her,  and  I  do  not  wish  this  matter  at  all  spoken  of  unless 
you  can  put  us  on  the  track  of  making  a  satisfactory  arrange- 
ment." 

The  tone  of  Dr.  Deems's  letters  during  the  year  1857  is 
in  the  main  most  cheerful ;  but  in  places  they  show  that  he 
was  tempted  to  be  depressed  by  physical  infirmity,  pecuniary 
anxieties,  and  the  detractions  of  certain  evil  and  envious  men. 
In  a  letter  written  to  an  intimate  friend  in  the  fall  of  1857  he 
says :  "  What  an  immense  deal  is  couched  in  the  promise  of 
that  heaven  where  '  the  wicked  cease  to  trouble,  and  the  weary 
are  forever  at  rest ' !  My  troubles  have  seemed  to  produce  a 
complex  effect  upon  my  character.  They  have  hardened  the 
muscles  of  my  spirit  and  they  have  bruised  also.  I  can  bear 
more,  lift  more ;  but  there  is  a  very  sore  iiiside  spot,  and  I 
have  continually  to  watch  it,  lest  it  fester  and  break  out.  And 
then  I  have  a  sensitiveness  lest  it  be  discovered.  I  have  in- 
augurated street-preaching  in  this  city,  and  last  Wednesday 
night,  October  i4lh,  I  rang  our  new  bell,  mine  being  the  first 
hand  to  employ  it  in  calling  the  people  up  to  worship.  This 


146 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


is  an  event.  My  steeple  is  going  up.  Last  week  I  spent  in 
Goldsboro  and  was  sick  all  the  while.  Mrs.  Dr.  Annin,  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  Anna's  playmate  in  childhood,  has  been  our 
guest  some  weeks." 

To  Miss  Mary  Reamy 

"  September  I,  1857. 
"  Our  baby  girl  is  one  of  the  cutest,  sharpest,  liveliest  little 
things  you  ever  saw,  and  so  small  and  plump!     We  call  her 
partridge,  snow-bird,  rice-bird,  everything  we  can  think  of 
which  is  expressive  of  brief  plumptitude." 

To  His  Son  Theodore 

"  Wilmington,  N.  C,  November  4,  1857. 

"  My  dear  Son  :  We  were  much  gratified  yesterday  by 
the  reception  of  your  letter,  and  much  pleased  to  know  that 
you  were  growing  fat.  Upon  the  failure  of  your  letter  we 
wrote  to  Mr.  Wilkinson,  and  he  told  us  of  your  punctuality 
and  praised  you  in  terms  which  gladdened  us.  I  wish,  my 
dear  son,  you  could  look  into  your  father's  heart  and  see  how 
it  grows  happy  when  he  learns  that  you  have  done  anything 
to  please  others  and  make  them  happy.  None  but  a  parent 
can  know  a  parent's  anguish  at  the  misdeeds  of  a  child.  We 
pray  daily  that  our  dear  Theodore  may  always  bless  us.  I 
shall  be  willing  to  be  an  old  man  if  my  children  will  only  so 
act  that  they  can  maintain  a  good  position  in  society.  If  this 
gives  us  concern,  how  much  more  anxious  should  we  be  that 
our  children  stand  well  with  God,  who  knows  all  hearts  and 
who  will  fix  our  places  in  eternity! 

"  All  the  children  send  love.  Louly  is  so  sweet!  Our  kind 
regards  to  Mrs.  Hook  and  Uncle  Everitt's  family. 

"  Affectionately  your  father, 

"Charles  F.  Deems." 


THE  WILMINGTON  PARISH 


147 


The  North  Carolina  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  was  opened  at  Goldsboro  on  the 
second  day  of  December,  1857,  Bishop  Pierce  presiding.  Dr. 
Deems  was  present  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  proceedings, 
especially  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education.  He  was 
elected  one  of  the  delegates  to  attend  the  General  Conference, 
which  was  to  be  held  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  the  following  spring. 
It  was  at  this  conference  in  Goldsboro  that  Robert  S.  Moran, 
D.D.,  then  a  local  elder  from  Genesee  Conference,  New  York, 
was  readmitted  into  the  travehng  connection.  Dr.  Moran  was 
a  man  of  brains  and  culture,  and  Dr.  Deems  and  he  became 
devoted  friends  for  hfe. 

The  closing  weeks  of  1857  were  largely  devoted  by  Dr. 
Deems  to  preparing  the  third  volume  of  "  The  Annals  of 
Southern  Methodism."  With  this  exception,  he  had  done  but 
little  literary  work  for  two  years  ;  so  we  find  him  writing  to  the 
editor  of  the  "  North  Carolina  Christian  Advocate,"  early  in 
1858:  "For  two  years,  except  a  few  scraps,  I  have  given 
nothing  to  the  press.  My  personal  matters,  as  you  know, 
have  kept  my  faculties  in  their  full  employ,  and  in  Wilming- 
ton, you  know,  a  man  has  hardly  an  hour  to  himself." 

Being  devoted  to  children,  it  was  a  constant  source  of  sor- 
row to  Dr.  Deems  that  his  duties  separated  him  so  frequently 
from  his  family.  In  April,  1858,  he  sent  his  two  elder  sons, 
Theodore  and  Frank,  to  an  excellent  boarding-school  at  South 
Lowell,  N.  C.  Writing  to  Mr.  Joseph  Speed,  the  principal  of 
the  school,  he  says,  among  other  things :  "  When  Wilberforce 
once  entered  the  nursery  of  his  own  house  and  took  up  his 
own  little  child,  it  cried,  and  the  nurse  informed  him  that  it 
'  always  did  so  with  strangers.^  That  is  one  of  the  great  afflic- 
tions of  being  a  public  man  and  the  servant  of  the  whole  com- 
munity. Perhaps  I  do  not  know  my  own  children  as  well  as 
others  do."  He  then  proceeds  to  speak  of  the  dispositions  and 
needs  of  his  two  sons  in  a  way  which  shows  how  thoroughly 


148 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


he  did  know  them.  All  his  children  can  testify  that  never  was 
a  father  less  deserving  of  the  title  "  stranger."  On  the  con- 
trary, he  was  their  companion  and  most  trusted  friend.  All 
their  little  joys  and  sorrows  they  took  straight  to  their  father, 
ever  assured  of  finding  in  him  a  true  sympathizer.  No  father 
ever  found  greater  comfort  in,  or  showed  truer  devotion  to, 
the  babe  in  the  home  than  did  Dr.  Deems.  In  a  letter  to  a 
friend  written  shortly  after  the  one  just  referred  to,  he  writes 
affectionately  about  all  his  children,  concluding  this  part  of 
his  letter  by  saying :  "  The  pet  of  the  house  is  '  Louly '  [Anna 
Louise],  our  Goldsboro  bud.  She  begins  to  expand  beauti- 
fully, after  very  little  promise.  She  is  exquisitely  sweet.  The 
dear  child  now  makes  attempts  at  a  few  words  and  keeps  up 
an  enormous  amount  of  jabbering  and  chattering.  This  morn- 
ing she  woke  like  a  birdling  and  opened  on  us  with  the  sweet- 
est twitterings  and  attempts  at  songlets."  This  same  letter  is 
full  of  characteristic  expressions  of  affection  for  his  wife.  And 
a  few  weeks  later,  in  the  midst  of  a  business  letter  to  his  father, 
he  suddenly  breaks  off  to  say :  "  I  love  you  dearly  for  all  your 
goodness,  tenderness,  and  devotion  to  me.  You  are  just  one 
of  the  dearest  and  best  fathers  that  ever  a  boy  had— and  I 
write  that  out  of  my  heart,  with  tears  in  my  eyes.  God  bless 
you!  And  if  I  live  when  you  are  gone  I  shall  survive  to  bless 
your  memory."  He  did  outlive  his  father  and  most  faithfully 
fulfilled  his  promise  to  bless  his  memory. 

To  His  Infant  Daughter  Louise 

Wilson,  N.  C,  July  29,  1859. 
"  Poppa's  darlin'  Nits,  pop's  goin'  to  yite  a  itty  letter  to. 
'Most  all  his  work's  done,  and  he's  goin'  in  the  tars  to  Wi'm'- 
ton.  Pop  do  want  to  see  Pidfit  to  mut.  No  itty  Looloo  to 
teep  in  itty  bed  'side  poppa's ;  no  mama  in  the  yoom ;  no  Sis 
Minnie.  P'ees,  Looloo,  do  tum  home  to  poppa.  Poppa  will 
hud  and  tiss,  and  tarry  on  wid,  and  div  it  tandy.    My  gayshus! 


THE  WILMINGTON  PARISH 


149 


won't  pop  be  g'ad?  And  won't  Fide  dump?  Itty  Fide  been 
all  way  up  in  Johnson  Tounty  on  a  visit.  When  pop  dot 
home  Fide  'most  eat  him  up.  Looloo  ought  to  see  how  he 
'  make  his  tail  went.'  Looloo  'member  '  Missie,'  Miss  Hon- 
fluer's  itty  dog?  Well,  yesterday  pop  went  to  see  it;  and  it 
was  so  g'ad.  It  'most  talk,  and  would  stay  by  pop.  Poor 
Missie  t'ou't  pop  could  tell  her  'bout  her  mittit.  Looloo,  'et's 
all  tum  home — mama  and  Min  and  F'ank  and  Eddie  and  Bud 
Teedy  and  pop.    And  'et's  hud  and  tiss  powerful. 

"  Hud  F'ank  for  pop,  and  tiss  Eddie,  and  skeeze  Sis  Min, 
and  eat  mama  up.  Dood-by,  darlin'  itty  bitty  teet  dal!  Tell 
danpa  and  danma  and  Untie  Markey  and  Aunt  Mary  and 
the  chillun  they  must  tum  home  wid  Looloo! 

"Your  owney-downey 

"  Pop." 

Dr.  Deems's  tenderly  affectionate  and  demonstrative  spirit 
was  manifested  toward  many  outside  as  well  as  those  of  his 
own  family  circle,  and  was  one  of  the  secrets  of  his  popularity 
and  success ;  for  all  felt  that  it  was  genuine. 

In  March,  1858,  in  the  Front  Street  Church,  and  in  fact  in 
all  the  churches  of  Wilmington,  a  work  of  grace  was  mani- 
fested. This  was  most  cheering  to  Dr.  Deems  in  his  ministry, 
and  to  the  editor  of  the  "  North  Carolina  Christian  Advocate," 
Dr.  Heflin,  he  thus  writes : 

"  The  Lord  has  been  pouring  out  his  Spirit  upon  this  church 
during  the  last  fortnight  abundantly.  The  humility,  earnest- 
ness, and  zeal  of  the  membership  have  been  greatly  increased. 
We  have  had  two  meetings  daily.  The  prayer-meetings  at 
noon  have  been  largely  attended  and  ha\'e  proved  precious 
seasons.  Persons  of  all  classes  have  been  penitent  at  our 
altar,  and  more  than  thirty  have  made  a  profession  of  reli- 
gion. Last  night  there  were  twenty-nine  penitents.  The 
intervals  of  public  service  are  spent  in  private  conversa- 


150 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


tion  with  'mourners.'  Of  course  I  have  httle  time  for  any- 
thing else. 

"'The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us;  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our 
refuge.'  " 

About  the  middle  of  May  Dr.  Deems  went  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  as  one  of  the  delegates  from  the  North  Carolina  Con- 
ference to  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  which  meets  once  in  every  four  years.  Al- 
though kept  very  busy  all  the  time  he  made  many  friends,  and 
returned  to  Wilmington  refreshed  and  stimulated  in  spirit, 
though  weary  in  body.  Writing  from  Nashville,  May  1 5th, 
to  a  member  of  his  church,  he  says,  among  other  things :  "  I 
made  my  North  Carolina  tour  safely,  reached  this  city  '  right 
side  up,'  and,  as  they  say  in  Georgia,  '  pitched  in '  <z^/medi- 
ately.  .  .  .  Last  night  I  preached  in  the  Methodist  cathedral 
called  McKendree  Church.  It  was  a  very  large  congrega- 
tion, a  very  hot  time,  a  very  slender  discourse,  and  a  very  at- 
tentive crowd.  You  cannot  tell  how  I  long  to  be  at  home. 
My  labors  are  excessive.  I  am  confined  to  the  conference- 
room  during  the  morning,  and  the  afternoon  is  spent  in  com- 
mittees. I  am  secretary  to  the  most  laborious  committee,  that 
of  revisals,  and  have  to  write  out  the  reports  thereof.  This  is 
laborious,  as  our  committee  has  the  revisal  of  the  whole  sub- 
ject of  our  church  Discipline."  When  conference  was  ad- 
journed, about  June  ist.  Dr.  Deems  wrote  home  that  he  was 
almost  blind  with  exhaustion,  and  that  his  hand  was  giving 
him  continuous  pain  from  constant  use  of  the  pen. 

The  summer  and  fall  were  spent  in  faithful,  fruitful  work 
in  the  interests  of  his  Wilmington  parish,  wherein  he  was 
greatly  blessed.  His  birthday,  December  4th,  found  him 
in  improved  health  and  excellent  spirits,  as  may  be  seen  by 
the  following  letter  to  an  old  New  York  friend. 


THE  WILMINGTON  PARISH 


151 


To  Mrs.  Caroline  R.  Dend 

"  December  4,  1858. 

"  My  dear  Sister  Dend  :  This  is  my  thirty-eighth  birth- 
day, and  I  reserve  for  it  my  correspondence  with  my  most 
intimate  friends.  Do  you  remember  that  just  nineteen  years 
ago  ( ! )  you  were  so  kind  to  the  boy  who  had  gone  to  New 
York  to  try  his  fortunes  and  begin  his  ministry?  What  trials, 
what  conflicts,  what  fightings,  what  fears,  since  that  time! 
How  hard  has  been  his  hfe,  how  good  his  God!  And  amid 
it  all  he  has  never  forgotten  one  single  act  of  your  kindness 
and  goodness.  To-day  my  people  fete  me.  Never  has  there 
risen  upon  me  a  birthday  that  had  more  clustering  blessings. 
In  arranging,  as  I  always  do  before  conference,  all  my  worldly 
affairs  as  if  I  were  going  to  die,  I  have  never  been  in  so  com- 
fortable a  condition.  And  now  from  all  these  comforts  my 
heart  goes  back  to  a  time  when  I  really  did  not  know  how  to 
replace  my  threadbare  coat  with  another,  and  when  a  lady,  as 
I  walked  with  her  down  Canal  Street,  so  delicately  begged  me 
not  to  be  offended  if  the  ladies  presented  me  a  suit  of  clothes, 
as  they  intended  to  do  the  same  to  Dr.  Bangs.  You  know 
who  that  lady  was,  but  you  do  not  know  how  acceptable  was 
the  gift.    The  Lord  God  bless  you  abundantly.  .  .  . 

"  My  future  is  somewhat  uncertain.  They  have  again 
elected  me  president  of  Soule  University,  Texas ;  but  my  North 
Carolina  friends  seem  determined  that  I  shall  not  leave  them, 
and  are  projecting  the  purchase  of  a  residence  for  my  family 
in  this  city.  In  the  meantime  two  wealthy  gentlemen  offer 
me  two  seminaries  in  the  same  town  (Wilson,  N.  C),  the  title 
of  the  property  to  be  in  me  in  fee,  the  rectory  of  which  is  all 
I  shall  have  to  take ;  that  is  to  say,  I  could  have  my  confer- 
ence appointments  as  now  ;  and  my  occasional  work  and  con- 
stant oversight  would  yield  me  a  handsome  profit.  And  to 
bribe  me  to  accept  their  munificence,  one  of  the  gentlemen 


152 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


offers  me  five  hundred  dollars  for  a  brief  European  tour.  If 
I  accept  the  latter  I  shall  probably  see  you  in  February. 

"  Please  write  to  me,  and  '  keep  a-lovin'  me,'  as  the  darkies 
say.    Mrs.  Deems  joins  me  in  sentiments  of  high  regard." 

The  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  in  North  Carolina,  met  at  Newbern,  in  the  African 
Church,  Bishop  Kavanaugh  presiding.  Dr.  Deems  was  pres- 
ent, and  of  course  had  a  delightful  reunion  with  his  many 
friends  in  his  former  parish.  In  the  "Daily  Progress"  for 
December  15th,  the  following  item  appeared: 

"C.  F.  Deems,  D.D. 

"  We  understand  it  was  stated  on  the  floor  of  the  confer- 
ence yesterday  that  this  distinguished  divine  has  been  invited 
recently  to  the  presidency  of  a  university  in  the  State  of  Texas. 
This  promises  to  be  the  richest  and  best  endowed  and  one  of 
the  most  influential  institutions  in  all  the  South. 

"  We  also  learn  that  Dr.  Deems  has  been  called  to  the  pas- 
torate of  a  popular  church  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

"  It  is  certainly  gratifying  to  his  friends— and  their  name  is 
legion — to  know  that  he  who  is  so  much  loved  at  home  is  held 
in  such  high  estimation  abroad.  We  hope  North  Carolina 
will  offer  such  inducements  to  Dr.  Deems  as  that  he  will  be 
content  to  forego  these  splendid  offers  and  remain  among  us. 
Though  an  adopted  son,  there  is  no  one  more  loyal  to  the 
'  Old  North  State,'  and  who  has  a  warmer  place  in  her  great 
beating  heart.  The  ties  that  bind  us  are  strong,  and  we  trust 
they  will  never  be  severed." 

Conference,  in  making  its  appointments,  at  this  session  did 
not  send  Dr.  Deems  back  to  Front  Street  Church,  but  promoted 
him  by  making  him  presiding  elder  of  the  Wilmington  district, 
within  whose  bounds  were  at  that  time  fourteen  churches. 


CHAPTER  V 


TEACHING  AND  TRAVELING,  1859-60 

THE  next  thing  after  the  conference  of  1858  to  receive  Dr. 
Deems's  attention  was  an  appeal  from  certain  citizens  of 
Wilson,  N.  C,  for  him  to  establish  and  maintain  in  that  place 
a  seminary  for  young  men  and  women.  This  is  the  offer  re- 
ferred to  in  the  last  chapter  in  his  letter  to  Mrs.  Caroline 
Dend.  He  decided  to  accept  the  invitation,  and  in  a  letter  to 
a  friend,  dated  December  24,  1858,  says:  "Conference  has 
adjourned ;  we  are  breaking  up ;  all  things  about  us  are  in 
confusion.  We  are  to  live  in — Wilson!  !  Your  old  home. 
But  it  has  grown  greatly.  They  have  erected  a  large  semi- 
nary and  presented  me  two  thirds  of  it ;  that  is,  I  pay  one 
third  of  cost,  and  have  the  whole  in  fee  simple  and  the  whole 
control.  I  expect  next  month  to  open  a  large  school  for  boys 
and  girls,  and  to  expand  it,  as  my  time  and  powers  allow,  into 
the  greatest  and  best  thing  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina." 

From  His  Journal 

"  Monday,  January  3d.  The  circular  announcing  my 
school  in  Wilson  published  at  noon.  My  first  Quarterly  Con- 
ference was  held  at  Fifth  Street  Church  in  the  preacher's  office. 
Rev.  T.  W.  Guthrie,  pastor." 

"  Tuesday,  January  4th.  At  work  on  '  Annals  of  Southern 
Methodism.'  Very  perplexing.  The  book  has  to  be  finished 
153 


164 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


at  such  a  busy  time  of  the  year.  My  engagements  now  are 
very  pressing.  The  '  Annals,'  my  district,  the  opening  a  new 
seminary— all  at  once!  I  go  to  my  office  by  starlight  in  the 
morning.    'As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be.' " 

"  Monday,  January  loth.  Closed  up  affairs.  Started  with 
Mrs.  Deems  and  '  Loulie '  for  Wilson.  Mrs.  Coffin  (who  is 
to  be  matron  of  the  seminary)  and  daughter  accompanied  us. 
At  Faison  we  gathered  up  all  the  other  children.  Stayed  all 
night  at  Wiley  Daniel's  in  Wilson." 

"Wednesday,  January  12th.  The  first  meal  at  the  new 
seminary  at  supper.  Present,  Mrs.  Deems,  Mrs.  Coffin,  Miss 
Sarah  Brown  and  Miss  Kate  Shackelford,  of  Wilmington,  Miss 
Mary  W.  Speed,  Maria  Coffin,  Professor  Radcliffe,  Minnie, 
Theodore,  Frank,  and  Eddie  Deems.  In  the  name  of  the 
Lord  have  we  set  up  our  banners." 

The  newly  erected  seminary  cost  seventy-five  hundred  dol- 
lars. It  was  amply  provided  with  rooms  for  boarding  pupils, 
class-rooms,  and  one  entire  wing  devoted  to  a  residence  for 
Dr.  Deems  and  his  family.  Ample  grounds  and  outhouses, 
such  as  a  kitchen,  barn,  etc.,  made  a  complete  institution.  In 
connection  with  the  seminary  Dr.  Deems  secured  an  indefinite 
lease  on  another  lot  having  on  it  a  large  two-story  house,  a 
school  for  boys,  with  dormitories  and  recitation-rooms. 

The  town  of  Wilson  is  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
north  of  Wilmington  and  is  the  county-seat  of  Wilson  County. 
It  was  a  bright  place  in  1859,  but  has  grown  and  improved 
wonderfully  since  that  time.  After  energetic  and  careful  effort 
Dr.  Deems  secured  a  faculty  for  his  schools,  furnished  them, 
and  began  the  first  term  on  January  13,  1859.  On  that  day 
the  new  seminary  was  dedicated.  It  was  named  "  St.  Austin's 
Institute."  The  Rev.  J.  W.  Tucker  read  Psalm  xci.  and  offered 
prayer ;  Dr.  Deems  delivered  the  address  of  the  occasion  ;  and 
the  benediction  was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  N.  A.  H.  Goddin. 


TEACHIXG  AND  TRAVELING 


155 


Fifteen  boys  and  sixteen  girls  were  entered  as  scholars  for  the 
ensuing  session. 

When  the  first  scholastic  exercises  commenced,  on  Monday, 
January  17  th,  there  were  in  attendance  twenty-four  boys  and 
twenty-four  girls ;  but  by  the  end  of  the  year  there  had  been 
enrolled  in  the  seminary  for  young  ladies  tighty-two,  and  in 
the  military  academy  ninety-three,  a  total  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five.  Miss  Mary  Wade  Speed  was  principal  of  the 
ladies'  seminary,  and  Captain  James  D.  Radcliffe  of  the  mih- 
tary  academy.  They  were  both  experienced  teachers  and 
eminently  fitted  for  the  positions  which  they  held.  Professor 
Radcliffe  was  a  graduate  of  the  South  Carolina  Military 
Academy.  In  addition  to  the  English,  mathematical,  and 
classical  branches,  the  pupils  had  the  advantage  of  the  infan- 
try drill  of  military  academies.  To  secure  interest  and  suc- 
cess in  this  an  ample  supply  of  cadet  muskets  was  provided, 
and  a  neat,  plain,  and  inexpensive  uniform.  The  uniform 
proved  a  great  help  in  securing  discipline  and  preventing  ex- 
travagance ;  and  the  drill,  while  not  interfering  with  the 
studies,  favored  the  physical  and  intellectual  training  of  the 
boys  and  young  men.  The  pupils  of  both  departments  came 
chiefly  from  North  Carolina,  but  also  a  few  came  from  neigh- 
boring States. 

In  addition  to  engaging  teachers  and  professors  of  unusual 
ability  for  the  various  departments.  Dr.  Deems  secured  for  the 
institution  a  very  fine  and  ample  selection  of  chemical  and 
philosophical  apparatus,  and  one  afternoon  in  each  week  was 
devoted  to  lectures  illustrating  to  the  pupils  in  both  depart- 
ments the  laws  of  matter  and  of  motion,  mechanics,  hydrau- 
lics, hydrostatics,  pneumatics,  electricity,  optics,  magnetism, 
electromagnetism,  chemistry,  and  astronomy.  In  addition  to 
these  regular  scientific  lectures,  gentlemen  from  abroad  were 
occasionally  employed,  and  the  rector.  Dr.  Deems,  addressed 
the  classes  upon  such  subjects  of  personal  interest  as  he  thought 


156 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


most  important.  While  St.  Austin's  was  an  undenominational 
school,  it  yet  made  provision  for  the  spiritual  culture  of  its 
pupils,  both  branches  being  opened  and  closed  daily  with  the 
reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  prayers ;  and  on  Sundays  espe- 
cial instruction  in  the  Bible  was  given. 

Dr.  Deems  was,  of  course,  profoundly  interested  in  his  Wil- 
son schools,  and  put  into  them  not  only  four  of  the  best  years 
of  his  life,  but  also  his  whole  heart  and  mind.  Nor  were  these 
bestowed  in  vain ;  for  in  return  he  made  a  host  of  friends, 
educated  a  large  company  of  young  people,  and  received  a 
mental  and  spiritual  discipline  without  which  he  could  never 
have  made  the  mark  in  the  world  which  he  afterward  did.  He 
never  forgot  the  generosity  and  aid  of  the  patrons  of  St.  Aus- 
tin's in  Wilson  and  elsewhere,  and  held  in  tenderest  memory 
both  his  associates  in  the  faculty  and  his  pupils  in  the  ladies' 
seminary  and  the  military  academy. 

In  addition  to  the  care  and  toil  involved  in  the  founding 
and  carrying  on  of  his  Wilson  schools,  Dr.  Deems  during  his 
whole  life  in  Wilson  kept  up  vigorously  and  successfully  his 
work  as  presiding  elder  of  the  Wilmington  district.  The  bulk 
of  his  time  was  given  to  this  work,  and  the  schools  received 
the  remainder.  To  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  his  life  at  this 
time  we  insert  here  the  following 

Extracts  from  His  Journal  for  1859 

"Saturday,  January  2 2d.  Left  Wilmington  on  early  train. 
Weather  inclement.  Mr.  Tom  Ashe  invited  me  to  his  brother's. 
Found  the  family  of  the  Hon.  William  S.  Ashe  very  agreeable. 
Mr.  Tom  Ashe  particularly  interesting  in  California  stories. 
Walked  over,  or  rather  waded,  to  Rocky  Point  Church.  No 
one  there." 

"  Monday,  January  24th.  Rose  at  three  o'clock  and  rode 
with  Mr.  James  to  the  Marlboro  station.    Thence  to  Wil- 


TEACHING  AND  TRAVELING 


157 


mington  by  railroad.  Shopped  all  day.  Left  in  afternoon  train 
and  reached  home  at  night.  Wednesday,  26th.  At  home ; 
very  unwell.  Wednesday,  February  2d.  Working  on  the 
'Annals  of  Southern  Methodism.'" 

"  Saturday,  March  1 2th.  Dr.  F.  W.  Potter  carried  me  to 
Zoar,  in  Brunswick  County,  over  a  most  wretched  road  to  a 
wretched  '  meeting-house.'  Lot  said  truly,  '  It  is  a  little  one.' 
Met  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Betts.  Held  Quarterly  Conference.  Then 
went  to  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Mercer's,  where  we  spent  the  night. 
Doleful  country." 

"  Monday,  April  i  ith.  At  night  [in  Wilmington]  heard  Ed- 
ward Everett  deliver  his  famous  oration  on  'Washington,'  and 
was  sadly  disappointed.  Every  gesture  was  put  in  precisely 
where  it  should  have  been ;  every  sentence  was  balanced, 
every  tone  studied.  As  a  literary  performance  it  was  polished 
to  perfection.  Some  of  the  gems  were  exquisite.  But  at  the 
conclusion  I  had  not  once  felt  my  blood  stirred,  nor  did  I 
feel  a  greater  veneration  for  Washington.  Whereupon  I  con- 
cluded that,  with  all  its  merits,  it  failed  both  as  a  philosophi- 
cal inquiry  and  as  an  oration." 

"  Friday,  June  3d.  Friday  afternoon  went  [from  Wilming- 
ton] in  the  steamer  '  Fanny  Lutterloh.'  Just  before  daylight 
was  put  out  at  Purdie's  Landing.  Lost  my  way— night- 
storm — finally  succeeded." 

"  Sunday,  December  4th.  My  thirty-ninth  birthday!  'Few 
and  evil ;'  yet  how  old  I  am!  I  have  felt  so  much.  Stayed 
last  night  with  Mr.  John  C.  Bowden.  Administered  the  sac- 
rament of  the  Lord's  Supper  in  the  morning  to  the  whites,  in 
the  afternoon  to  the  colored  people." 

"  AVednesday,  December  14th.  Conference  opens  at  Beau- 
fort, N.  C.    Bishop  Early  presides." 

"Monday,  December  19th.  Very  sick  with  my  ear.  At 
night  I  fainted!    A  new  sensation.    Am  I  weakening?" 

"  Tuesday,  December  20th.    The  physician  put  me  on  my 


158 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


feet,  and  I  made  an  address  before  conference  in  behalf  of 
the  '  Advocate,'  and  secured  thirteen  hundred  dollars  to  meet 
its  liabihties.  The  news  reached  town  [Beaufort]  to-day  that 
I  had  been  elected  to  the  professorship  of  history  and  elocu- 
tion in  the  University  of  North  Carolina." 

During  the  1859  session  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference 
two  things  occurred  which  gave  the  greatest  gratification  to 
Dr.  Deems:  one  was  the  admitting  into  that  conference 
and  the  appointment  to  the  Topsail  circuit  of  his  father, 
the  Rev.  George  W.  Deems,  from  Petersburg,  Va. ;  and  the 
other  was  Dr.  Deems's  election  by  the  University  of  North 
Carolina  to  the  chair  of  history  and  elocution.  The  Wilming- 
ton "  Herald  "  of  December  21st,  commenting  on  the  call  to 
the  university,  said :  "  The  trustees  show  their  appreciation  of 
sterling  talent  and  ability  in  their  selection  of  Dr.  Deems. 
We  do  not  think,  however,  that  the  doctor  will  accept.  He 
has  year  after  year  refused  tempting  offers  of  a  similar  nature, 
and  we  do  not  beheve  that  he  wishes  to  leave  the  regular  work 
of  the  ministry.  Besides,  he  has  now  in  the  full  tide  of  suc- 
cessful operation  a  large  and  flourishing  school  at  Wilson, 
which  he  can  superintend  without  interfering  with  his  duties 
as  a  minister  of  Christ."  Although  urged  to  do  so  by  confer- 
ence. Dr.  Deems,  after  mature  deliberation,  decided  not  to 
go  to  the  university. 

From  His  Journal 

"  Saturday,  December  31st.  Raining  and  cold.  Spent  the 
last  night  of  this  year  [in  Wilmington]  in  the  quiet  house  of 
my  friend  Mr.  Van  Sickle.  God  has  been  good  to  me  this 
year.  I  have  not  missed  an  appointment  on  my  district 
through  sickness,  and  only  one  elsewhere.  My  schools  have 
prospered.  We  have  had  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pupils.    My  receipts  have  fallen  short  of  my  expenditures  by 


TEACHING  AKD  TRAVELING 


159 


about  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  but  I  have  purchased 
more  than  sixteen  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  furniture.  I 
thank  God  and  take  courage.  Oh,  that  I  may  be  a  better 
man  next  year!  So  pass  our  years  into  eternity;  the  unalter- 
able record  is  made." 

Almost  every  thoughtful  man  sooner  or  later  is  possessed 
with  a  desire  to  travel,  especially  in  foreign  lands ;  so  it  is  not 
strange  that  for  many  years  Dr.  Deems  had  eagerly  wished  to 
visit  Europe.  At  last,  in  i860,  the  way  seemed  clear  for  him 
to  do  so.  During  1859  he  had  put  his  Wilson  schools  in 
good  working  order  and  had  become  familiar  with  and  sys- 
tematized the  work  on  the  Wilmington  district,  over  which  he 
was  presiding  elder.  Moreover,  friends  of  means  and  gener- 
osity had  placed  at  his  disposal  five  hundred  dollars  toward 
the  expenses  of  a  European  trip.  Besides  all  this,  he  had  been 
for  years  under  a  mental  and  physical  strain  which  impera- 
tively called  for  some  such  experience  as  this.  He  accord- 
ingly decided  to  travel,  and  prepared  industriously  for  a  six 
months'  journey  abroad. 

From  His  Journal 

"Wednesday,  March  21st.  My  dear  children  met  me  in 
my  study  and  we  had  a  pleasant  family  chat.  Thursday, 
March  2 2d.  Left  the  seminary  with  Mrs.  Deems,  Minnie, 
and  Loulie  for  the  cars.  Many  of  the  pupils  assembled.  It 
was  hard  parting,  but  my  wife  was  with  me  and  that  cheered. 
At  Weldon  married  a  couple  at  the  hotel.  Reached  Mr.  Dis- 
osway's  [at  Stony  Creek,  near  Petersburg,  Va.]  in  the  even- 
ing. Friday,  March  23d.  At  three  o'clock  to-day  parted 
from  my  dear,  dear  wife  for  six  or  seven  long  months.  It 
was  tenfold  more  bitter  than  I  thought  it  could  be.  Traveled 
all  night." 


160 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


On  his  way  to  New  York  Dr.  Deems  stopped  off  to  visit 
friends  at  Washington,  Baltimore,  and  Philadelphia.  He 
reached  New  York  City  Wednesday,  March  28th,  and  put  up 
at  first  at  the  Astor  House,  but  afterward  made  his  headquarters 
at  the  residence  of  his  wife's  uncle,  Mr.  Cornelius  Disosway, 
who  lived  at  No.  36  West  Forty-fifth  Street,  and  who  showed 
Dr.  Deems  every  attention  during  his  stay  in  the  city.  Satur- 
day evening,  March  31st,  he  went  to  Albany,  where  he  was 
the  guest  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  author  of  "  Annals  of  the 
American  Pulpit,"  for  which  Dr.  Deems  had  written  sketches 
of  Brame,  Summerfield,  and  Emory.  On  Sunday  he  preached 
in  Dr.  Sprague's  pulpit  both  morning  and  evening.  Monday 
was  spent  delightfully  in  visiting  in  Albany,  a  most  pleasant 
interview  with  Palmer,  the  sculptor,  being  one  of  the  features 
of  the  day. 

Leaving  Albany  Tuesday  morning,  he  stopped  a  few  hours 
at  West  Point,  where  he  was  introduced  to  Professor  O.  O. 
Howard.  Arriving  in  New  York  in  the  afternoon,  he  heard 
in  the  evening  William  Cullen  Bryant's  oration  on  Washing- 
ton Irving  at  the  Academy  of  Music.  Edward  Everett  also 
spoke,  and  Dr.  Deems  saw  on  the  platform,  among  other 
celebrities,  Bancroft  and  General  Winfield  Scott.  It  was 
Irving's  birthday.  The  next  few  days  were  spent  in  sight- 
seeing, hearing  addresses  and  sermons  by  famous  men,  and  in 
securing  his  passage  for  Europe. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Dr.  Deems  first  came  in  touch  with 
"  Commodore "  Cornelius  Vanderbilt.  On  this  subject  he 
wrote  years  afterward : 

"In  the  year  i860  I  had  occasion  to  visit  Europe.  For 
that  purpose  I  left  my  pastoral  charge  in  North  Carolina  and 
came  to  New  York.  One  day,  while  standing  on  the  corner 
of  Broadway  and  Bowhng  Green,  my  wife's  uncle,  Mr.  Gabriel 
Disosway,  found  me  there  in  a  brown  study.  I  told  him  that 
I  was  just  considering  the  question  whether  I  should  venture 


TEACH  I XG  AXD  TRAVELING 


161 


to  take  passage  in  the  steamship  '  Illinois.'  He  said  he  had  a 
friend  in  the  neighborhood  who  could  tell  me  all  about  it. 
'Who  is  it?'  said  I.  'Cornelius  Vanderbilt.'  I  had  heard 
Mr.  Gabriel  Disosway's  brother,  my  father-in-law,  many  a 
year  ago  speak  of  his  early  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Vanderbilt, 
both  these  gentlemen  having  been  Staten  Islanders.  I  re- 
quested him  to  take  me  to  Mr.  Vanderbilt's  office. 

"  When  we  entered  he  was  standing  at  a  desk  alone.  He  was 
a  magnificent-looking  man.  '  How  are  you,  judge?  '  said  he, 
addressing  Mr.  Disosway.  My  wife's  uncle  then  presented  me 
and  told  my  business  in  general  terms.  He  looked  me  straight 
in  the  eye  ;  I  shall  never  forget  the  man's  face  and  expression. 
I  stood  returning  the  gaze  and  said :  '  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  I  am 
going  to  Europe ;  I  haven't  too  much  money ;  I  want  to  ex- 
pend as  little  on  the  passage  as  practicable,  that  I  may  have 
more  to  spend  abroad.  The  "  Illinois  "  advertises  passage  at 
twenty  dollars  in  gold  less  than  the  other  lines  ;  twenty  dollars 
is  an  amount  worth  my  considering,  but  I  think  too  much  of 
myself  to  put  my  life  in  peril  for  twenty  dollars.  Do  you 
think  the  "Illinois"  will  make  the  trip?'  He  looked  me 
straight  in  the  eye  and  said,  '  Doctor,  she  will  reach  the  other 
side.'  I  instantly  responded,  '  Then,  if  I  am  alive,  I  shall  be 
with  her.    Good-morning,  Mr.  Vanderbilt,'  and  I  walked  out. 

"  I  never  forgot  that  brief  interview,  but  supposed  that  of 
course  it  had  long  ago  passed  from  his  memory.  Sixteen 
years  thereafter,  a  few  days  before  he  died,  while  propped  up 
in  his  invalid's  chair  in  his  front  room  in  No.  lo  Washington 
Place,  I  alluded  to  the  circumstance.  A  gentleman  of  the 
party  said,  '  Oh,  the  commodore  has  forgotten  all  about  that.' 
'  No,'  said  he,  '  I  haven't.'  And  then  the  dying  man  detailed 
the  whole  interview,  and  not  only  remembered  me  as  well  as 
I  had  remembered  him,  but  gave  a  history  of  the  '  Illinois,' 
describing  her  build  from  stem  to  stern  with  tenfold  the  full- 
ness with  which  I  could  have  done  it,  although  I  spent  fifteen 


162 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


days  on  her.  He  followed  it  up  with  a  minute  account  of  her 
subsequent  history." 

Frotn  His  Journal 

"  Saturday,  April  7th.  At  twelve  o'clock  was  on  board  the 
'  Illinois.'  State-room  7  ;  Captain  Seabury  ;  bound  for  Havre. 
Beautiful  day.  Quiet  in  heart.  Not  sick.  Interested  in  the 
sea.    After  to-day  shall  keep  a  copy  of  the  captain's  log." 

The  sea  voyage  was  marred  in  a  measure  by  wind  and  rain, 
and  was  made  in  fifteen  days.  Dr.  Deems  preached  on  the 
steamer's  deck  April  15th  and  April  2  2d.  He  thoroughly 
enjoyed  his  experience  on  the  Atlantic  notwithstanding  its 
roughness.  Southampton  was  reached  Monday,  April  23d, 
and  Tuesday,  April  24th,  the  steamer  was  at  her  pier  in  Havre. 

Before  going  abroad  Dr.  Deems  determined  not  to  correspond 
with  any  newspaper  and  not  to  write  a  book,  for  he  wished  his 
travels  to  be  unclouded  by  any  form  of  responsibility.  His 
diary  is  filled  with  sketchy  memoranda  made  with  lead-pencil 
and  in  very  fine  handwriting.  He  wrote  frequently  and  fully 
to  his  family  and  friends,  and  sent  especially  interesting  letters 
to  his  Wilson  schools,  which  were  brought  together  from  time 
to  time  to  hear  these  letters  read.  On  account  of  time  and 
war  and  the  death  of  many  of  his  correspondents,  all  of  Dr. 
Deems's  letters  are  lost,  save  one  which  he  wrote  to  his  wife 
on  reaching  the  British  Channel.  The  doctor  traveled  rapidly 
and  covered  a  great  deal  of  ground ;  but  he  observed  acutely 
and  intensely  and  thought  deeply  on  what  he  saw,  thus  making 
his  six  months  in  Europe  an  epoch  in  his  mental  and  spiritual 
life.  In  going  to  Europe  he  had  three  especial  objective 
points:  Rome,  Oxford  at  the  commencement  season,  and 
Oberammergau  at  the  time  of  the  passion-play. 

To  the  more  important  places  in  his  itinerary  he  gave  weeks, 
and  to  those  of  less  interest,  days  or  even  hours.    His  longest 


TEACHING  AND  TRAVELING 


163 


Stops  were  at  Paris,  Naples,  Rome,  London,  Oxford,  and  Ber- 
lin. During  most  of  the  time  he  had  delightful  American  and 
British  traveling  companions  and  was  in  excellent  health ;  but 
at  other  times  he  suffered  from  loneliness  and  depression  of  spir- 
its, and  once  he  was  quite  ill  for  a  few  days  while  in  Holland. 
What  interested  him  most  in  his  travels  was  not  scenery,  but 
historic  places,  painting  and  statuarj^  and  people  of  high  and 
low  degree  with  their  peculiar  thoughts  and  customs.  The 
cathedrals  especially  impressed  him,  leading  him  to  exclaim, 
while  under  the  spell  of  one  of  the  most  impressive  of  them, 
"Thank  God  for  the  dark  ages!" 

In  Paris  he  saw  everything  of  note,  and,  among  other  sights, 
was  permitted  to  see  the  emperor  and  empress,  the  little  prince, 
and  Prince  Jerome,  his  son,  and  his  wife.  He  admired  the 
elegant  simplicity  of  the  traveling  costume  of  the  Empress 
Eugenie,  who  at  the  time  was  leaving  France  for  a  visit  to  the 
British  queen.  He  spoke  to  the  httle  Napoleon,  and  said  he 
then  looked  like  his  illustrious  uncle. 

Naples,  with  its  historic  and  picturesque  surroundings,  was 
deeply  interesting  to  Dr.  Deems. 

From  His  Journal 

"Thursday,  May  8th.  Woke  this  morning  near  Naples. 
Beautiful  for  situation.  Vesuvius  active— beggars  too.  De- 
tained two  hours ;  then  landed.  Examined  by  police,  baggage 
examined  by  custom-house  officer.  At  last  allowed  to  go  to 
our  hotel  and  get  breakfast  at  eleven.    Passports  kept." 

Besides  delightful  sight-seeing  in  Naples,  Dr.  Deems  made 
excursions  to  Pompeii,  Herculaneum,  Vesuvius,  Virgil's  tomb, 
Baiae,  Castellamare,  and  Sorrento.  Just  before  leaving  Naples 
on  Saturday,  May  loth,  Dr.  Deems  wrote  in  his  journal, 
"  Garibaldi  has  taken  Palermo  and  is  expected  to  march  on 


164 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Naples.  Most  of  the  strangers  leaving."  He  reached  Rome 
at  8  P.M.,  May  20th,  and  in  his  journal  indicates  his  emotions 
on  arriving  in  the  Eternal  City  by  giving  the  word  "  Rome  " 
three  heavy  underscorings.  He  spent  ten  intensely  interesting 
days  in  Rome,  meeting  many  noted  people,  including  the  pope, 
and  seeing  most  of  the  great  sights.  He  says  in  his  journal 
that  on  Wednesday,  May  23d,  he  took  a  night  walk  "a  la 
Marble  Faun,"  and  on  Thursday  mounted  St.  Peter's  into  the 
ball.  The  Vatican  with  its  treasures  of  art  and  antiquity  re- 
ceived especial  attention  and  thrilled  him.  He  did  not  fail  to 
explore  the  catacombs,  climb  Hilda's  Tower,  and  otherwise 
study  and  enjoy  Rome. 

After  Rome  the  principal  northern  cities  of  Italy  were  visited, 
Florence,  Venice,  and  Milan  giving  him  especial  delight.  At 
Verona  he  was  taken  for  a  spy.  The  "  Diamond,"  a  litde 
amateur  journal,  edited  and  printed  for  a  short  time  in  New 
York  City  by  the  young  nephews  of  Mrs.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt, 
in  its  issue  for  June,  1887,  printed  the  following  account  of  this 
episode : 

"We  heard  Dr.  Deems  tell  the  following  story:  'In  i860 
I  came  near  dropping  out  of  the  world.  In  a  party  of 
travelers  at  Venice  were  a  New  York  merchant,  a  Brooklyn 
physician,  an  English  acquaintance,  and  myself.  My  English 
acquaintance  and  I  went  to  Verona.  We  parted  at  night 
with  the  understanding  that  he  should  join  the  American 
friends  from  Venice  the  next  morning,  while  I  went  to  Man- 
tua. Rising  early,  I  put  on  my  duster,  and,  taking  a  guide- 
book, ascended  the  castle  steps  to  enjoy  the  splendid  view  of 
Lombardy.  I  sat  upon  one  of  the  steps  taking  notes  and 
sketches.  Once  or  twice  I  heard  the  door  at  the  top  open 
and  shut,  but  before  I  could  turn  my  head  the  opener  had  dis- 
appeared from  sight.  At  last  I  got  a  view  of  the  head  as  the 
door  closed.  In  a  few  moments  a  strong-armed  Austrian  sol- 
dier came  lumbering  down  the  steps  and  laid  his  hand  on  my 


TEACHING  AND  TRAVELING 


165 


shoulder.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  he  meant  that  I  should 
follow  him.    Serenely  and  innocently  I  walked  behind. 

"  '  After  a  few  steps  we  met  an  officer.  Some  conversation 
followed,  which  I  was  not  able  to  understand,  my  conductor 
showing  him  the  book  in  my  hand  and  turning  to  the  page 
which  had  the  plan  of  the  fortifications.  He  was  directed  to 
take  me  below.  All  at  once  I  awoke  to  a  sense  of  my  con- 
dition. A  gentleman  had  lately,  to  the  great  distress  of  his 
family,  been  kept  in  an  Austrian  prison  on  suspicion  of  being 
a  spy.  It  struck  me  that  that  was  to  be  my  fate.  When  we 
came  to  a  certain  platform  about  nine  feet  above  the  street 
there  was  a  fork  in  the  road  ;  my  conductor,  evidently  expect- 
ing me  to  follow,  had  turned  to  the  left. 

"  '  I  made  a  calculation  of  my  abihty  to  leap.  After  he  had 
taken  three  steps  I  wheeled  to  the  right,  sprang  down  the  steps 
into  the  street,  doubling  until  I  reached  a  church,  where  I 
went  in,  got  behind  the  altar,  stripped  off  my  blouse,  wrapped 
it  into  as  small  a  compass  as  possible,  turned  my  cap  inside 
out,  and  by  doubling  reached  the  hotel,  where  I  quickly  settled 
my  bill,  secured  a  conveyance,  and  got  into  an  eastern-bound 
car,  where  I  found  our  whole  party.  I  explained  my  escape 
to  them.  A  European  sitting  near  and  hearing  the  story  said, 
"Well,  no  doubt  you  did  some  rapid  running?  " 

'""Running!"  I  replied.  "I  am  an  American;  do  you 
suppose  an  American  ever  runs?  But  to  be  candid  with  you, 
sir,  if  you  had  seen  me  from  the  bridge  you  would  have  seen 
some  tall  walking." 

" '  If  I  had  been  imprisoned  I  should  have  disappeared. 
The  last  trace  made  of  me  would  have  been  at  the  hotel  whence 
my  English  friend  expected  me  to  go  to  Mantua.  There  the 
clue  would  have  broken.  It  was  a  close  call,  and  I  was  very 
glad  to  get  off  so  well.' " 

While  in  Europe  Dr.  Deems  was  three  times  in  London, 
and  on  each  visit  made  good  use  of  his  time  in  sight-seeing. 


166 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Probably  what  interested  him  most  was  seeing  and  hearing 
the  great  men  in  Parhament.  He  heard  Gladstone,  Lord 
Palmerston,  Lord  Brougham,  and  others.  Among  the 
preachers  whom  he  went  to  hear  were  Spurgeon,  Mr.  Punshon, 
and  Dean  Stanley. 

On  Saturday,  June  23d,  he  wrote  in  his  journal:  "The 
greatest  day  of  England  in  this  generation.  The  great  're- 
view of  volunteers.'  Walked  and  stood  and  leaned  for  seven 
hours.  Saw  thirty  thousand  volunteers  and  certainly  seventy 
thousand  people.  Was  opposite  Buckingham  Palace.  Saw 
the  queen  distinctly,  and  Prince  Albert  and  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  and  the  'whole  lot.'  What  people!  what  crowds! 
what  splendor!  what  beauty!" 

From  London  Dr.  Deems  went  to  Oxford,  and  the  five  days 
which  he  spent  at  this  ancient  and  classic  university  were  after- 
ward often  spoken  of  with  glowing  pleasure.  He  probably 
enjoyed  no  part  of  his  travels  more  than  his  stay  at  Oxford, 
which  he  reached  on  the  27th  of  June.  Here  he  packed  every 
minute  with  the  sweet  toil  of  inspecting  Oxford  buildings, 
men,  and  methods.  As  it  was  the  commencement  season, 
many  men  of  learning  and  rank  were  present,  and  among  other 
addresses  which  Dr.  Deems  heard  was  a  discourse  by  Mr. 
Huxley,  which  he  afterward  thought  "had  in  it  the  main 
points  of  the  article  of  his  which  appeared  in  the  '  Westmin- 
ster Review '  of  that  year,  afterward  published  in  his  volume, 
in  which  he  gives  his  reason  for  rejecting  the  hypothesis  of  the 
direct  creation  of  species." 

In  speaking  of  the  various  college  buildings  and  grounds, 
he  always  awarded  the  palm  — and  who  would  not? — to 
Magdalen  College,  with  its  quiet,  studious  cloisters  adorned 
with  ivy,  its  ample  parks  with  their  stately  shade-trees, 
green-sward,  feeding  deer,  and,  the  glory  of  all,  "Addison's 
Walk." 

Neighboring  points  of  interest  were  visited:  Woodstock, 


TEACHING  AND  TRAVELING 


167 


where  he  saw  Blenheim's  beautiful  grounds,  drank  of  "  Rosa- 
mond's Well,"  and  looked  upon  Chaucer's  house;  Shotover, 
Mary  Powell's  home ;  Forest  Hill,  with  Milton's  courting-walk ; 
Cumner,  where  Amy  Robsart  died,  and  near  which  Alfred  was 
bom  and  Hampden  fell.  In  the  midst  of  his  memoranda  of 
these  excursions  he  writes  in  his  journal :  "  Delightful  walks 
and  sights.    Beautiful,  dear  old  England!" 

When  in  the  midst  of  his  rambles  through  the  English  lake 
district  he  visited  Rydal  Mount,  the  home  of  the  poet  Words- 
worth, on  Wednesday,  July  i8th.  There  he  saw  and  talked 
with  James  Dixon,  who  had  been  for  thirty-five  years  a  ser- 
vant in  the  Wordsworth  family,  and  from  whom  Dr.  Deems 
bought  a  most  interesting  chair,  which  the  poet  had  used  in 
his  study,  and  which  is  still  preserved  in  the  Deems  family  as 
a  precious  relic. 

The  latter  half  of  August,  all  of  September,  and  half  of  Oc- 
tober were  spent  on  the  Continent,  visiting  the  principal  points 
of  interest  in  Holland,  Belgium,  Germany,  and  Switzerland, 
touching  again  at  Paris  on  his  homeward  way.  Naturally  the 
cathedrals  and  art  galleries  received  the  largest  share  of  his 
attention. 

No  paintings  appear  to  have  impressed  him  more  than  Ru- 
bens's  two  masterpieces  in  the  cathedral  of  Antwerp.  We 
find  lying  in  his  journal  a  loose  sheet  of  note-paper,  on  both 
sides  of  which  is  a  closely  written  discriminating  criticism  of 
these  two  noble  works  of  art. 

The  Rhine,  Heidelberg,  Berlin,  Dresden,  and  Oberammer- 
gau,  as  well  as  other  points  on  the  Continent,  were  seen  and 
enjoyed  as  only  a  man  like  Dr.  Deems  could  see  and  enjoy 
them.  Then  he  turned  his  face  homeward,  and  after  touch- 
ing again  at  London,  and  spending  a  few  days  in  visiting  Cork, 
Dublin,  and  the  Killarney  Lakes,  he  boarded  the  steamer 
"  Edinburgh "  and  sailed  for  America  on  Thiu-sday,  Octo- 
ber 25th. 


168 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


From  His  Journal 

"  October  26th.  This  morning  it  was  very  rough,  and  for 
the  first  time  in  my  life  I  was  somewhat  seasick.  My  room- 
mate is  Mr.  Mirzan,  a  native  of  Smyrna  and  now  Uving  in 
Boston.  October  28th.  To-night  was  flung  down  and 
bruised  my  arm  badly.  It  was  in  the  engine-house.  A  most 
furious  blow  all  night.  Rolling,  terrible  waves ;  water  poured 
in;  women  and  children  cried;  a  time!  Preached  on  ship- 
board from  Psalm  Ixv.  5.  November  2d.  In  the  night  reached 
banks  of  Newfoundland.  The  morning  foggy,  the  day  rainy. 
November  5th.  A  day  of  debate  on  American  politics. 
November  6th.  A  wonderful  waterspout  rising  to  the  south 
of  us  and  coming  across  our  stem  a  few  hundred  yards  behind ; 
a  most  extraordinary  exhibition  when  a  black  background  of 
clouds  made  it  very  visible ;  the  rapid  waving  ascent  into  the 
air  and  its  agglomeration  into  feathery  clouds ;  its  colors,  white, 
lead-color,  and  copper.  November  7th.  At  ten  o'clock  to- 
day dropped  anchor  in  the  river.  On  landing,  learned  that 
Abraham  Lincoln  had  been  elected  President  of  the  United 
States.  Heard  of  the  conversion  of  my  children.  Took  train 
for  Wilson  at  6  p.m.  November  8th.  In  Baltimore  at  eight. 
Went  to  Washington,  where  we  remained  until  6  p.m.  Strolled 
through  Patent  Office  and  Capitol.  Sad  feelings.  Perhaps 
this  may  never  be  occupied  by  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  again.  November  9th.  Reached  Wilson  at  2  p.m. 
(after  several  stops  on  the  way  from  New  York  City).  Joyful 
meeting  with  my  wife  and  children" 

Thus  closed  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  significant 
epochs  in  Dr.  Deems's  hfe,  a  period  which,  had  its  close  not 
been  shadowed  by  war-clouds,  would  have  been  looked  back 
upon  by  him  as  one  of  almost  undimmed  sunshine. 


CHAPTER  VI 


THE  WAR,  1861-65 

"  Where  we  lay, 
Our  chimneys  were  blown  down  ;  and  as  they  say, 
Lamentings  heard  i'  the  air;  strange  screams  of  death; 
And  prophesying,  with  accents  terrible, 
Of  dire  combustion,  and  confused  events. 
New  hatched  to  the  woeful  time." 

AS  Dr.  Deems  landed  upon  the  wharf  in  New  York  City  that 
l\  bleak  November  day  in  i860,  the  first  thing  he  heard  was 
that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  elected  President  of  the  United 
States.  Remembering  all  that  had  transpired  in  the  deep  and 
angry  slavery  debates  between  the  extremists  on  both  sides,  and 
especially  the  John  Brown  raid,  which  was  virtually  the  first 
battle  of  the  war,  he  foresaw  clearly  that  Mr.  Lincoln's  election 
meant  civil  war,  and  lost  no  time  in  rejoining  his  family.  Ar- 
riving at  his  home  in  Wilson,  he  found  himself  confronting  a 
situation  which  was  indeed  so  menacing,  so  intricate  and  per- 
plexing, that  few  men  knew  what  best  to  do.  The  conflict 
of  opinion  had  reached  the  explosive  stage ;  madness  seemed 
to  rule  the  hour.  The  warning  voices  of  sober  men  who  would 
promote  peace  were  raised  in  vain  or  silenced  amid  the  mighty 
clamor ;  individual  and  even  State  efforts  to  check  the  impend- 
ing and  tremblingly  poised  avalanche  were  seen  to  be  utterly 
in  vain ;  the  strong  undercurrent  of  conservative  good  sense 
169 


170 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


and  calm  reflection  was  overborne  by  the  elements  of  strife 
and  revolution. 

Posterity  and  future  history  will  render  a  diiTerent  and  more 
impartial  verdict  in  favor  of  the  mass  of  the  people  of  the 
South,  especially  of  North  Carolina.  Already  we  have  seen 
much  of  the  unjust  harshness  and  rancorous  asperities  of  the 
post-bellum  sentences  eliminated  or  softened  down  by  the 
justice  of  time.  It  is  now  seen  that  it  is  possible  for  a  few 
opposing  extremists  in  power  to  plunge  a  whole  people,  de- 
spite themselves,  into  war. 

With  the  peace-  and  Union-loving  patriots  of  that  day  Dr. 
Deems  was  in  cordial  sympathy.  When  the  war  broke  out 
there  was  no  man  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina  who  was 
personally  known  to  so  many  people  as  he ;  and  since  the 
war,  with  the  sole  exception  of  the  late  Senator  Z.  B.  Vance 
(war  governor  of  North  Carolina),  no  man  ever  was  known 
personally  to  more  North  Carolinians  than  Dr.  Deems,  thanks 
to  his  popularity,  his  eloquence,  and  the  itinerant  feature  of 
the  Methodist  ministry.  He  was  opposed  to  his  State  with- 
drawing from  the  Union,  believing  such  a  course  to  be  not 
unconstitutional,  but  inexpedient ;  but  when  North  Carolina 
decided  to  secede  he  went  heart  and  soul  with  his  people.  As 
to  slavery,  while  he  was  not  its  rabid  advocate,  yet  he  knew 
that  as  it  existed  in  his  State  slaveholding  was  not  a  crime, 
that  slaves  and  slaveholders  were  Christians,  and  died  as  Chris- 
tians, and  were  buried  side  by  side,  and  that  much  that  was 
said  about  the  abuses  of  slavery  was  absolutely  false,  so  far,  at 
least,  as  North  Carolina  was  concerned. 

In  common  with  the  majority  of  Southerners,  when  the  war 
closed  and  slavery  was  abolished  Dr.  Deems  was  glad  that  it 
was  gone.  He  was  of  those  who  believed  that  slavery  would 
have  been  abolished  eventually  by  the  process  of  gradual 
voluntary  manumission.  Living  on  the  ground,  he  did  not 
see  those  horrible  things  which  were  said  of  the  abuses  of  the 


THE  WAR 


171 


relationship  of  master  and  slave ;  but  residing  in  the  South,  he 
did  see  certain  things  that  in  his  opinion  sufficiently  amelio- 
rated the  state  of  affairs  to  warrant  the  nation  in  getting  rid 
of  slavery  by  less  bloody  measures  than  a  gigantic  civil  war. 
So  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  Dr.  Deems  regarded  the 
course  of  the  Southern  people  as  wrong.  He  did  regard 
secession  as  iiiexpedietit  and  deemed  its  advocates  mistaken. 
He,  in  common  with  many  good  men,  believed  in  the  "  sacred 
right  of  revolution  for  the  redress  of  insupportable  grievances." 

In  these  memoirs  we  would  fain  pass  over  those  four  years 
of  fratricidal  strife,  from  the  spring  of  1861  to  the  spring  of 
1865  ;  but  this  cannot  be  done,  for  they  are  matters  of  irrevo- 
cable history  and  played  an  important  part  in  molding  Dr. 
Deems's  character  and  shaping  his  destiny.  It  will  be  seen 
from  the  extracts  from  his  journal  and  letters  that,  never  hav- 
ing been  a  preacher  of  partizan  politics,  he  did  not  begin  to 
be  one  when  war  came.  Being  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  he 
did  not  bear  arms ;  but  he  did  toil  indefatigably  to  comfort 
the  bereft  at  home  and  inspire  the  heroes  at  the  front.  He 
gave  his  oldest  son,  Theodore,  to  the  army,  to  fall  with  a 
mortal  wound  fighting  heroically  on  the  second  day  of  Gettys- 
burg's bloody  field. 

While  visiting  and  toihng  in  the  Wilmington  and  Newbern 
districts,  over  the  latter  of  which  he  was  made  presiding  elder 
in  December,  1862,  he  also  canvassed  the  whole  State  in  the 
interests  ^f  a  fund  for  founding  and  supporting  a  "  Col- 
lege for  the  Orphans  of  Southern  Soldiers."  Soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  war  the  young  men  and  boys  of  his 
military  academy  either  went  to  the  army  or  were  taken  home 
by  anxious  parents ;  so  that  it  was  only  a  matter  of  a  few 
months  before  that  department  was  closed.  But  the  seminary 
for  young  ladies  was  with  great  difficulty  kept  up  until  the 
close  of  1863,  when  it  seemed  best  to  Dr.  Deems  to  sell  his 
Wilson  property,  close  his  school,  and  move  to  Raleigh.  But 


172 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


we  will  let  him  speak  for  himself  of  these  and  other  interest- 
ing matters. 

From  His  Journal,  1861 

"Tuesday,  January  ist.  The  new  year  makes  its  advent 
in  gloom.  The  secession  of  South  Carolina  and  the  events 
consequent  thereupon  have  thrown  the  whole  country  into 
trouble.  Every  day  the  telegrams  become  more  distressing. 
No  one  now  sees  what  is  to  be  the  result.  The  greatest  pres- 
sure exists  in  trade." 

"Saturday,  April  13th,  Providence,  DupHn  County,  N.  C. 
Heard  that  yesterday  General  Beauregard  had  opened  the  as- 
sault upon  Fort  Sumter.  This  is  the  beginning  of  our  Civil 
War.    The  excitement  rises." 

"Sunday,  April  14th.  Fort  Sumter  last  night  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Confederate  troops.  No  one  killed  on  either 
side,  except  three  men  by  accident  after  the  surrender.  The 
excitement  of  war  news  growing  intense." 

"Tuesday,  April  16th,  Wilson,  N.  C.  The  news  to-day  is 
that  General  Scott  has  resigned  and  that  Virginia  has  seceded." 

"  Wednesday,  April  1 7th.  Lincoln's  proclamation  has  stirred 
the  country.  North  Carolina  is  in  revolution.  Forts  Caswell 
[near  Wilmington,  N.  C]  and  Macon  have  been  taken  by  the 
Confederates.  An  order  came  to-day  for  the  Wilson  Com- 
pany to  proceed  to  Fort  Macon.  The  ladies  are  at  work  on 
mattresses  and  shirts.    All  the  country  astir." 

"Thursday,  April  i8th.  Had  hard  work  to  keep  my  boys 
from  breaking  up  and  going  to  the  war.  The  Wilson  Com- 
pany left  in  the  two-o'clock  train.  John  W.  Dunham,  my  as- 
sistant, is  with  them.  Patriotic  speech  to  the  troops.  Virginia 
seceded  to-day  at  4 :  20  a.  m.    It  was  proclaimed  at  noon." 

"Sunday,  April  21st,  Clinton,  N.  C.  Heard  to-day  that 
the  Baltimoreans  had  withstood  Northern  troops  and  there 
had  been  loss  of  life." 


THE  WAR 


173 


"Monday,  April  2 2d,  Wilson,  N.  C.  At  night  the  Georgia 
troops  passed  through  and  I  addressed  them  at  midnight." 

"  Friday,  April  26th.  Went  to  Wilmington.  Stayed  with 
the  Rev.  M.  Robbins.  Many  of  the  men  of  the  town  are  at 
Fort  Caswell.    My  son  Theodore  came  down  with  me." 

"  Saturday,  April  27th.  Met  the  Rev.  I.  B.  Bailey  (at  Pros- 
pect, New  Hanover  County)  and  held  Quarterly  Conference. 
Theodore  (seventeen  years  of  age)  went  to  Fort  Caswell  to  go 
into  the  fort  as  secretary  to  Captain  Hedrick.  Returned  to 
Wilmington.  Tea  with  the  Rev.  T.  W.  Guthrie.  Went  down 
to  the  evening  train  and  saw  the  Hon.  Alexander  Hamilton 
Stephens,  Vice-President  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America. 
Small  man,  big  head,  clear  voice,  rapid  enunciation.  Good 
talk.  He  was  much  jaded,  was  just  from  Richmond,  taking 
Virginia  into  the  Confederation." 

To  His  Son 

"  Wilmington,  April  29,  1861. 
"  My  dear  Son  :  Your  note  of  yesterday  gave  me  much 
pleasure.  That  to  your  mother  will  go  up  to-day.  On 
Saturday  evening  Vice-President  Stephens  passed  through  town 
and  made  a  short  speech.  In  private  he  said  that  the  march 
upon  Washington  was  mere  newspaper  talk,  that  of  course  it 
would  not  be  made  until  war  should  be  declared  by  the 
Southern  Confederacy,  and  that  that  would  not  be  done,  of 
course,  before  the  assembling  of  Congress.  We  have,  how- 
ever, plenty  of  work  to  do  in  perfecting  our  home  defense  and 
driUing  our  men.  We  must  not  go  too  fast.  The  North  is 
putting  itself  in  complete  array  and  the  feeling  is  deepening. 

For  yourself,  I  can  give  you  no  better  advice  than  that  of 
the  town  clerk  of  Ephesus :  '  Do  nothing  rashly.'  Your  surest 
place  is  the  post  of  duty.  Rise  by  doing  just  what  is  needed 
in  your  position.    Your  work  will  often  require  /lasie,  never 


174 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


hurry.  Be  thoughtful.  A  sh'ght  mistake  in  a  subaltern  may 
produce  very  disastrous  consequences.  You  will  be  noticed 
early  enough  and  advanced.  Let  all  about  you  acquire  con- 
fidence in  your  judgment,  coolness,  reliability,  and  promptness. 
Guard  against  the  infection  of  moral  evil  in  the  camp.  '  My 
son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not.'  If  your  course 
of  carefulness  cause  a  sneer  at  first,  it  will  produce  respect 
afterward,  and  perhaps  at  the  moment  may  strengthen  some 
weaker  soul  in  the  struggle  with  the  tempter.  Attend  to  your 
private  devotions  and  study  God's  blessed  Word. 

"  Collect  all  the  facts  you  can  this  week,  and  I  will  en- 
deavor to  be  down  next  Monday,  and  we  may  be  able  to 
decide  upon  something.  You  need  make  no  haste  in  that, 
however.  If  you  are  useful  in  your  present  position,  that  is 
enough.  Preserve  all  the  letters  you  receive ;  when  you  be- 
come an  old  man  they  may  be  highly  interesting  and  impor- 
tant as  showing  the  temper  of  these  trying  times.  May  the 
Lord  keep  you. 

"Your  affectionate  father, 

"Charles  F.  Deems. 

"  T.  D.  Deems, 

"  Fort  Caswell.  N.  C." 

Fro7n  His  Journal,  1861 

"  Thursday,  May  2d,  Wilson,  N.  C.  My  male  school  nearly 
broken  up.  The  boys  who  have  not  gone  to  the  war  have 
been  recalled  by  their  parents." 

"  Monday,  May  6th.  Went  down  [from  Wilmington]  to 
Fort  Johnston  and  thence  to  Fort  Caswell.  Mrs.  Deems  and 
Minnie  returned.  Frank  and  Eddie  stayed  with  me  all  night 
in  the  fort.  Preached  at  the  fort,  Philippians  i.  21.  Very 
many  of  the  soldiers  were  present.  An  impressive  time.  The 
singing  of  '  Old  Hundred  '  was  remarkable." 


THE  WAR 


175 


"Tuesday,  May  7th.  Slept  last  night  in  the  hospital,  Fort 
Caswell.  This  morning,  with  Lieutenant  Mcllhenry,  went  in 
a  boat  to  Fort  Johnston.  We  swamped  and  were  obliged  to 
be  put  into  a  lighter.  Preached  at  Fort  Johnston,  but  was  in- 
terrupted by  the  steamer  bringing  troops.  From  Fort  Caswell 
we  carried  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry  to  Federal  Point." 

"  Wednesday,  May  8th.  There  was  an  alarm  in  Wilming- 
ton this  morning  that  troops  were  landing  on  Oak  Island  to 
attack  Fort  Caswell.  Turned  out  to  be  false,  but  made  much 
excitement." 

"  Monday,  May  20th.  Went  to  Raleigh.  Was  present  at 
the  convention,  which  adopted  the  ordinance  of  secession 
whereby  the  State  of  North  Carolina  resumed  her  sovereignty. 
At  the  close  of  the  voting  Governor  Ellis  and  I  went  to  the 
west  window  of  the  capitol  and  gave  the  signal  for  artillery 
discharge.    Great  enthusiasm." 

"Tuesday,  May  21st.  Had  an  interview,  at  his  request, 
with  the  governor.  Gave  him  many  of  my  views  on  matters 
and  things.  Do  not  like  the  way  they  manage  matters.  At 
the  request  of  Weldon  N.  Edwards,  president,  I  opened  the 
convention  with  prayer,  the  first  prayer  after  North  Carolina 
had  become  one  of  the  Confederate  States.  At  night  the 
ordinance  was  signed." 

"  Tuesday,  May  28th.    Theodore  went  to  Norfolk." 

"  Monday,  June  3d,  Wilmington.  At  tea  Frank  arrived 
with  Theodore's  commission  as  second  heutenant.  Company 
K,  Seventh  Regiment,  North  Carohna  Volunteers." 

"Tuesday,  June  4th.  Returned  to  Wilson,  where  I  found 
Theodore,  who  had  accepted  the  appointment  of  second  lieu- 
tenant, etc.    Battle  of  Bethel  Church." 

"Thursday,  July  4th.  Fourth  of  July!  Eighty-one  years 
and  the  country  disrupt!  AVas  to  have  delivered  a  speech  in 
Cheraw,  S.  C,  to-day,  but  here  I  am  on  a  bed  of  sickness  in 
Wilmington,    '  Man  proposes,  God  disposes.'  " 


176 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"Thursday,  July  i8th.  All  interest  seems  absorbed  in  the 
war." 

"  Friday,  July  19th.  Left  for  Wilmington.  Heard  of  a 
great  battle  fought  yesterday  at  Bull  Run  in  Virginia,  in  which 
the  Confederates  were  victorious.  A  few  such  conflicts  ought 
to  terminate  the  war." 

"Monday,  July  22d.  Great  news  to-day  of  the  splendid 
victory  achieved  yesterday  by  our  forces  at  Manassas  Junction." 

"  Tuesday,  July  23d.  Very  anxious  to  hear  the  particulars 
of  the  great  battle,  a  number  of  our  Wilson  men  being  in  it. 
Sad,  sad  war! " 

"  Tuesday,  July  30th.  Left  Wilmington  in  5  a.m.  train 
and  reached  Wilson  at  noon.  Rode  much  of  the  time  in  mail- 
car,  where  I  met  Lieutenant  Blocker.  At  Wilson,  Arthur  B. 
Davis,  of  Georgia,  shot  and  instantly  killed  Captain  Charles 
H.  Axson,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  I  cared  for  the  corpse,  and 
after  the  inquest  directed  and  aided  in  washing,  dressing,  etc. 
Melancholy  task." 

"Saturday,  August  17th.  Preached  at  Fifth  Street  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  Wilmington.  Sometimes  one  seems 
inspired  in  preaching;  so  this  morning.  Never  can  repeat 
this  sermon." 

"August  29th,  30th,  31st.  News  reached  us  that  the  bat- 
teries at  Hatteras  had  been  taken  by  the  Federals.  Dull  hearts. 
The  Hatteras  news  very  troublesome.  The  people  flying  from 
Newbern.  I  went  to  Goldsboro.  Saw  very  many  of  my 
friends.  A  great  crowd  going  to  Western  villages.  Went  to 
the  graveyard  to  see  little  George's  grave." 

"  Monday,  September  2d.  At  work  in  the  schools.  Dull 
times.  Wilson  greatly  deserted,  and  all  depressed  by  the 
Hatteras  news." 

"Tuesday,  September  loth,  Wilmington.  Bought  the  girl 
'  Nicey '  from  the  estate  of  James  Sampson  [a  free  negro  who 
owned  many  slaves] ;  paid  five  hundred  and  twenty-fivedollars." 


THE  WAR 


177 


"  Wednesday,  December  4th.  My  forty-first  birthday.  The 
Lord  God  have  mercy  upon  me  and  pardon  me  all  my  past 
sins  and  delinquencies!  And  the  Lord  smile  upon  me,  and 
bless  me,  and  lead  me  to  devote  all  my  coming  life  thoroughly 
to  his  service!  The  bishop  [Andrew]  having  failed  to  arrive, 
the  conference  [at  Louisburg,  N.  C]  elected  me  president. 
Did  much  business." 

1862 

"Monday,  February  loth.  Went  by  rail  to  Wilmington 
and  there  heard  of  the  terrible  disaster  to  our  forces  at  Roa- 
noke Island.  A  gloomy  season.  Went  to  Goldsboro,  where 
General  Gathn  seized  the  train,  turned  out  the  passengers,  and 
put  in  soldiers.  I  was  permitted,  however,  to  come  on,  and 
had  a  pleasant  ride  with  Colonel  Levinthorpe." 

"Tuesday,  February  i8th.  Great  gloom  over  the  commu- 
nity by  reason  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson.  Our  men  are 
said  to  have  fought  well  and  to  have  been  overpowered  by 
numbers.    It  is  the  hour  of  darkness  with  the  Confederacy." 

"Friday,  February  2  ist,  Wilmington,  camp  of  Twenty-eighth 
Regiment,  North  Carolina  Volunteers.  This  being  a  day  of 
fasting  announced  by  the  mayor,  at  the  invitation  of  the  chap- 
lain I  preached  for  the  regiment.  Great  attention.  Hope 
good  was  done.  Went  in  steamer  '  Hunt '  up  the  Cape  Fear 
River.    Read  German  poetry  on  the  way." 

"Saturday,  February  22d.  This  morning  at  five  left  the 
steamer  at  Mr.  Guion's  landing,  because  the  flood  in  the  river 
kept  me  from  landing  at  Major  Richardson's.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Guion  very  kind.  Mr.  Guion  sent  me  to  Wesley  Purdie's. 
Took  boy  and  horse  and  crossed  the  river,  and  took  down 
fences,  finally  reaching  Bethlehem  in  time  to  preach  and  hold 
Quarterly  Conference.  Then  dined  at  Dr.  Richardson's  and 
stayed  all  night  at  Major  Richardson's.    Pleasant  visits." 

"Friday,  March  14th.    The  battle  of  Newbern  fought  to- 


178 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


day.  Our  forces  were  defeated  by  overwhelming  numbers  of 
the  enemy.  They  retreated  and  fell  back  to  Kingston.  Not 
knowing  of  the  disaster,  I  went  with  a  squad  to  Goldsboro, 
but  before  night  the  trains  began  to  pour  in,  bringing  wounded, 
the  baggage,  refugees  from  Newbern,  and  soldiers.  The  rout 
was  terrible.  The  excitement  in  Goldsboro  was  intense.  I 
waited  on  General  Gatlin  and  urged  that  he  should  arrest  the 
fugitives,  reform  them,  and  send  them  back.  Stayed  all  night 
at  Frank  Kornegay's.  Dr.  Foard,  who  was  in  the  battle, 
slept  with  me.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Gloss  arrived  in  town,  looking 
for  his  son." 

"Saturday,  March  15th.  This  morning  we  finally  started 
the  train  for  Kingston.  I  went  with  them  as  far  as  Mosely 
Hall  on  the  railroad.  My  friend  Z.  H.  Greene  was  with  me. 
It  rained.  At  Mosely  Hall  I  met  my  friend  Miss  Harriotte 
Cole,  of  Newbern,  and  went  with  her  to  Mr.  Joyner's,  where 
I  was  pohtely  treated.  Mrs.  Lavinia  Roberts,  Miss  Cole's 
sister,  is  with  her;  also  three  children  of  Mrs.  Roberts,  two 
of  Mrs.  Taylor ;  also  Captain  Hugh  L.  Cole.  Mr.  Wooten, 
seventeen  years  of  age,  from  Fayetteville,  with  a  bad  wound  in 
his  arm,  is  here.  In  the  evening  I  aided  Dr.  Adam  Davis  to 
dress  the  wound.  Have  had  a  most  fatiguing  day.  Have 
persuaded  my  friends  to  go  with  me.    Oh,  horrible  war!" 

"  Sunday,  March  1 6th !  How  unlike  a  Sunday  this  has  been ! 
This  morning,  after  a  scuffle,  I  succeeded  in  putting  all  the 
Cole  family  and  servants  on  board  the  cars,  except  '  Hattie,' 
with  all  the  baggage,  numbering  over  thirty  pieces.  But  after 
the  train  was  in  motion  I  saw  that  Hattie  was  left.  I  leaped 
off  and  let  all  go.  Finding  Hattie,  I  took  her  in  Dr.  Adam 
Davis's  buggy  to  Goldsboro.  My  shawl  had  been  stolen,  but 
all  else  was  complete.  At  night  I  succeeded  in  putting  all  the 
baggage,  except  five  or  six  pieces,  on  the  cars,  and  before  mid- 
night we  were  all  in  Wilson.  What  a  day  of  exertion!  O 
Lord,  how  long?  " 


THE  WAR 


179 


"  Monday,  March  17th.  Great  excitement  in  the  country. 
Troops  passing  and  repassing.  Tuesday,  March  i8th.  At 
home  keeping  the  school  going.  Wednesday,  March  19th. 
Went  to  Goldsboro  with  stores  for  the  hospital.  Found  many 
poor  fellows  wounded.    Returned  at  night." 

"Sunday,  April  20th.  Should  have  been  at  Queen's  Creek, 
Onslow  County.  The  enemy  have  possession  of  that  county. 
A  dark  day.  Hour  and  power  of  darkness.  In  my  weakness 
[he  was  ill]  all  past  troubles  came  back  like  a  tide,  and  the 
future  darkened.  At  night  Anna  and  Hattie  came  to  my 
rescue,  talked  to  me  like  Christian  women,  soothed  me,  and 
sent  me  to  bed  quiet  as  a  child.    '  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish! ' " 

"  Thursday,  April  24th.  To-day  went  into  the  school  and 
taught  a  little,  Mrs.  Deems  being  unwell.  I  have  suffered 
from  an  attack  of  a  bilious  nature  and  then  with  an  inflamma- 
tion of  the  right  eye.  It  has  been  a  tedious  time.  Dr.  B.  B. 
Williams  has  waited  on  me  most  skilfully,  and  Mrs.  Deems 
and  my  friend  Hattie  Cole  have  devoted  themselves  beautifully 
to  me.  April  25th.  After  twenty-two  days'  confinement  to 
the  house  I  walked  out  for  the  first  time.  April  26th.  A 
long,  dark,  gloomy,  rainy  day.  I  should  have  been  at  Shal- 
lotte  Camp,  in  Brunswick,  attending  to  the  Smithville  Quarterly 
Conference,  but  for  my  sickness.    The  Lord's  will  be  done." 

"  Saturday,  May  3d.  All  day  long  under  the  influence  of 
quinine.  The  afternoon  was  so  beautiful  I  rode  with  Mr. 
Greene  to  the  country.  In  the  evening  several  friends  called. 
Dr.  Dickson  thinks  I  can  preach  once  to-morrow  if  I  am 
wiUing  to  have  a  fever  after  doing  so.  It  has  been  so  long 
since  I  spoke  a  word  for  Jesus  that  I  think  I  am  willing." 

"Thursday,  June  26th.  Went  to  Petersburg,  Va.  Called 
on  the  Brownleys.  The  first  discharge  of  artillery  which  I 
have  heard  came  booming  over  Petersburg  to-night,  and  dis- 
tinct flashes  could  be  seen  in  the  northeast.  Shook  the  win- 
dows all  night.    Was  very  sick  all  night.    June  27th.  Felt 


180 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


very  sick  this  morning,  but  took  the  train  after  breakfast,  went 
to  Richmond,  and  put  up  at  the  Exchange  Hotel.  The  Sec- 
retary of  War  gave  me  a  pass,  but  I  could  not  find  passage  to 
the  camp.  The  great  battle  of  Richmond  began  yesterday. 
A  terrible  fight.  We  are  succeeding.  All  the  city  in  an 
immense  stir.    Saw  John  Dunham  to-day." 

"  June  28th.  To-day  I  went  with  the  ambulance  to  the 
battle-field  over  Meadow  Bridge  on  the  Chickahominy,  up  by 
Mechanicsville,  down  by  Ellison's  Mill,  where  there  was  such 
carnage,  and  out  to  Beulah  Church.  Oh,  the  sights!  Dead 
men  and  horses.  Wounded  men  and  horses.  Great  crowds 
of  wounded  hobbling  along  or  carried  in  ambulances.  Pla- 
toons of  prisoners  being  marched  in.  The  dust  immense. 
Went  to  hospital  at  Hood's  brigade.  More  than  a  hundred 
lying  with  every  kind  of  wound.  Went  over  to  Beulah  Church. 
Saw  Drs.  Stith  and  Pearsall,  of  North  Carolina.  A  hun- 
dred wounded  and  dead  men  here.  Came  home  at  night,  and 
reached  the  ladies'  seminary  at  eleven  o'clock  with  twenty-two 
wounded  men.  Went  to  Kent,  Paine  &  Co.'s  hospital,  and 
saw  Clark,  of  South  Carolina,  in  the  agonies  of  death." 

"  Sunday,  June  29th.  Heard  the  Rev.  Dr.  Minnegerode  this 
morning.  No  services  in  the  churches  the  balance  of  the  day. 
Visited  John  Dunham  and  spent  the  rest  of  the  time  in  the 
hospitals.  What  scenes  of  suffering,  and  how  bravely  our  men 
bear  it! " 

"  Monday,  June  30th.  To-day  Dr.  Basham  let  me  have  his 
horse,  and  I  went  out  the  Williamsburg  road  two  miles,  then 
down  the  Charles  City  road.  Met  Basil  Manly's  company  of 
artillery  coming  round  to  reinforce  General  Longstreet.  Fell 
in  with  General  Ransom's  brigade.  Dined  with  General  Ran- 
som, Colonel  Ransom,  Colonel  Cutts,  Colonel  Vance,  Ashe, 
Broadnax,  et  al.,  on  a  cracker  and  a  half.  Went  on  to  camp 
of  Twelfth  Virginia  Regiment ;  then  forward,  where  I  over- 
took the  regiment  of  Dr.  Frank  Disosway,  my  wife's  brother. 


THE  WAR 


181 


Saw  him.  Had  several  broken  interviews  near  Mrs.  Fisher's. 
Went  on  to  White  Oak  Swamp.  The  enemy  had  cut  down 
obstructions  and  made  a  stand.  An  artillery  fight  of  two 
hours  ensued,  and  I  was  caught  in  it.  The  shells  went  over 
and  around  me.  It  was  fearful.  God  was  my  stay.  Returned 
to  Richmond  at  ten,  dreadfully  tired." 

"Tuesday,  September  i6th.  Have  been  revolving  in  my 
mind  a  plan  to  obtain  an  endowment  for  a  military  college  to 
educate  the  orphan  boys  of  such  of  our  fellow-citizens  as  shall 
fall  in  this  war.  At  night  mentioned  it  to  my  wife  and  to 
Messrs.  Daniel  and  Moses  Rountree,  who  approve.  Wednes- 
day, September  17th.  Am  thinking  more  and  more  about 
my  plan  for  endowing  orphan  college.  O  Lord  God,  guide 
me ;  take  away  all  wrong  and  selfish  motives  and  help  me  to 
be  pure  and  do  purely.  Thursday,  September  i8th.  Day 
of  thanksgiving  appointed  by  the  President.  After  preaching 
a  sermon  (Isa.  Iv.  12,  13)  I  proposed  my  plan  for  endowing 
a  military  college  for  soldiers'  orphans  to  several  gentlemen, 
who  approved.  Mr.  Zeno  H.  Greene  dined  with  us.  We 
opened  a  subscription,  which  at  bedtime  amounted  to  fifty-one 
hundred  dollars.  Laus  Deo!  Thursday,  September  25th.  To- 
night we  held  our  first  regular  meeting  of  subscribers  to  the 
orphan  college.  Our  fund  has  gone  up  to  eighty-two  hun- 
dred dollars." 

"  Friday,  October  3d.  Engaged  in  teaching  in  the  school 
and  in  bringing  up  my  correspondence.  Heard  from  my  son 
Theodore  through  a  letter  from  Dr.  Frank  Disosway,  the  first 
intimation  in  three  weeks.  Saturday,  October  4th.  Went  to- 
day to   and  found    on  the  car.    He  had  heard  of 

Theodore's  safety  in  camp.    Great  relief.    Had  pleasant  time. 

Mrs.  is  always  charming ;  her  heart  seems  like  a  trap 

to  catch  sunbeams.  Tuesday,  October  7  th.  Came  home. 
Found  a  long  letter  from  my  son  Theodore,  which  was  a 
great  relief." 


182 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  Sunday,  November  9th.  The  pastor  being  absent,  I 
preached.  In  the  afternoon  visited  the  hospital.  About 
three  hundred  soldiers  there.  In  the  evening  alarming  news 
came  of  the  enemy  arriving  at  Greenville  in  gunboats.  Mr. 
Russell  came  for  his  daughter.  Monday,  November  loth. 
Things  more  quiet  to-day.  Some  aggravation  of  the  news 
from  Greenville  in  the  evening.  It  is  said  that  fifteen  gun- 
boats are  in  the  river.  What  am  I  to  do  with  this  houseful  of 
women  and  children?    The  Lord  direct  me!" 

"  Wednesday,  December  3d,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  The  twenty- 
second  session  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference  was  opened 
in  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  Rev.  Bishop 
Early  presiding.  As  usual,  I  am  thrown  upon  a  number  of 
the  hardest-working  committees,  besides  being  presiding  elder. 
Monday,  December  8th.  Conference  adjourned  to-night,  and 
I  was  appointed  to  Newbern  district." 

"  Monday,  December  15th.  We  hear  that  General  Lee  has 
repulsed  the  enemy  at  Fredericksburg,  but  we  can  learn  no 
particulars.  The  enemy  are  apparently  advancing  upon 
Goldsboro.  Tuesday,  December  i6th.  The  fighting  has 
been  going  on  about  the  Neuse  River  below  Goldsboro.  The 
enemy  seem  to  have  crossed  at  White  Hall.  We  learn  that 
they  destroy  houses  and  other  property  in  their  march.  Wednes- 
day, December  17th.  Many  of  the  wounded  are  being  sent 
from  Goldsboro.  Saturday,  December  20th.  On  a  freight- 
train  came  to  Goldsboro  with  my  son  Frank.  The  enemy 
have  beat  a  retreat  and  are  below  Kingston.  Thousands  of 
troops  are  around  Goldsboro.  The  bridge  over  the  Neuse  has 
been  destroyed." 

"  Monday,  December  2  2d.  Was  carried  in  a  wagon  [from 
Goldsboro]  by  a  man  named  Smith  to  the  Neuse  River,  across 
the  county  bridge,  finding  troops  of  soldiers.  Walked  with 
the  Rev.  D.  C.  Johnston  and  others  to  Everittsville,  where  I 
dined  with  Mrs.  Everitt.  Went  to  WiUiam  Carraway's,  where 


THE  WAR 


183 


I  spent  the  night.  The  enemy  had  burned  the  railroad  bridge 
and  torn  up  some  rails.  Tuesday,  December  23d.  Carraway 
gave  me  an  account  of  his  captivity ;  was  prisoner  seven 
hours.  The  enemy  have  stripped  some  houses  of  everything, 
leaving  many  of  the  poor  in  great  sulTering.  To  Faison's  by 
carriage.  To  Wilmington  by  train,  arriving  at  2  a.m.  Wednes- 
day morning." 

"  Wednesday,  December  31st.  Closed  the  day  at  a  prayer- 
meeting  in  the  church.  It  is  solemn  to  take  leave  of  another 
year,  with  its  sins  and  follies,  its  efforts  and  successes  and 
failures,  its  joys  and  sorrows,  its  losses  and  gains ;  and  it  is 
very  solemn  to  stand  at  the  door  of  another  year,  to  watch  it 
open  upon  the  invisible  future.  Blessed  be  God  for  all  his 
mercies!    God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner!  " 

1863 

"  Wednesday,  January  28th,  Wilmington.  Bought  one  hun- 
dred bushels  of  ground-peas  [peanuts]  to  send  to  Petersburg, 
Va.,  for  sale  to  make  oil.  I  am  in  St.  Paul's  case  when  he 
was  reduced  to  tent-making  to  support  the  outward  man  while 
he  preached  the  gospel,  with  this  difference,  that  I  do  not 
know  how  to  make  tents  and  must  do  what  is  within  my  ca- 
pabilities. The  war  has  reduced  us  to  this.  Settling  up  my 
salt  affairs.  [He  was  interested  in  some  salt-works  on  the 
coast.  —  Eds.]" 

"  Friday,  May  8th.  These  several  days  we  have  been  ex- 
ceedingly soHcitous  to  hear  from  our  boy  Theodore,  who  has 
been  in  the  terrible  battle  near  Chancellorsville,  in  which 
General  Lee  has  defeated  the  enemy  and  General  Jackson 
has  been  seriously  wounded ;  but  had  to  leave  home  without 
hearing  a  word.  Went  to  Goldsboro.  Monday,  May  nth. 
Compelled  to  leave  for  Columbus.  No  news  from  my  dear 
boy.    My  strength  seemed  failing,  when  a  young  gentleman 


184 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


informed  me  that  a  letter  had  been  received  from  Theodore ; 
that  he  was  well.  Just  afterward  Miss  Hattie  Cole  handed 
me  a  letter  from  him.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul!  Went 
on  my  way  rejoicing." 

"  Tuesday,  June  2d.  Believing  that  Lee's  forces  are  about 
to  move,  at  the  advice  of  my  wife  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cunning- 
gim,  I  started  for  Virginia  to  see  Theodore.  Rode  all  night 
on  the  cars.  Thursday,  June  4th.  About  nightfall  reached 
on  foot  camp  of  Iverson's  brigade.  My  son  much  surprised 
at  seeing  me.  After  supper  went  over  to  wagon  camp,  where 
I  lay  down  upon  the  ground  with  very  light  covering,  but 
slept  sweetly.  Wednesday,  June  loth.  Parted  [at  Culpeper 
Court-house]  with  my  son,  perhaps  for  the  last  time  in  this 
life.  [This  proved  prophetic,  for  Lieutenant  Theodore  D. 
Deems  fell  at  Gettysburg.]  Reached  Richmond  and  put  up 
at  the  Powhatan  House." 

"  Thursday,  July  9th.  Reached  home  [from  his  district] 
very  much  fatigued,  and  while  at  my  desk  bringing  up  my 
correspondence  received  a  telegram  from  Captain  West  that 
my  dear  boy  Theodore  had  been  severely  wounded  at  Gettys- 
burg. At  last  this  suffering  comes!  Was  up  nearly  all  night. 
First  night  of  my  life  i?i  which  I  did  uot  sleep  a  momejit  from 
sunset  to  daybreak." 

His  journal  then  goes  on  to  tell  of  an  intensely  interesting 
but  painful  visit  which  Dr.  Deems  immediately  made  to  the 
front  in  search  of  his  wounded  son.  But  his  efforts  were  vain. 
All  he  could  learn  positively  was  that  his  son  had  been  left, 
wounded,  near  Gettysburg,  and  had  probably  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  So  he  sadly  returned  to  his  home  and 
his  duties.  The  most  conflicting  rumors  came  to  the  family : 
that  the  wounds  were  slight,  that  they  were  fatal,  that  Lieu- 
tenant Deems  had  been  seen  in  a  Northern  prison,  and  so  on 
until  the  family  were  harassed  beyond  measure.    At  length, 


THE  WAR 


185 


about  two  months  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  on  Monday, 
September  14th,  while  attending  Quarterly  Conference  at 
Goldsboro,  through  a  letter  from  a  Rev.  Mr.  Skinner,  Dr. 
Deems  received  certain  information  of  the  death  of  his  be- 
loved Theodore.  He  returned  to  Wilson  immediately  to 
carry  the  sad  inteUigence  to  his  wife  and  children. 

From  His  Joiirtial 

"Wednesday,  i6th,  Thursday,  17th,  Friday,  i8th,  Saturday, 
19th.  Sad,  mourning  days,  spent  in  condoling  with  my  family, 
in  writing  letters  to  friends,  in  arranging  the  papers  of  my  dear 
departed  boy." 

"Wednesday,  September  23d.  My  servant  Rachel  fast 
sinking." 

In  the  course  of  time  it  was  learned  that  in  the  absence  of 
Captain  Taylor,  of  Company  G,  Fifth  North  Carolina  State 
Troops,  Lieutenant  Deems  was  on  the  first  day  acting  captain, 
and  while  enthusiastically  leading  and  cheering  on  his  men 
during  one  of  Gettysburg's  desperate  and  bloody  charges,  fell 
wounded  in  two  places,  the  wound  which  proved  fatal  being 
in  the  hip.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and  kept,  with  other 
wounded  men,  on  Hanky's  farm.  He  here  lingered  until 
about  July  17th,  when  his  brave  spirit  was  released  and  took 
its  flight  to  that  blessed  realm  where  the  horrors  of  war  are 
forever  unknown. 

Lieutenant  Deems  was  a  devout  Christian  and  expected  to 
devote  his  life  to  the  ministry  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  He  was  universally  beloved,  and  his  death  was  a 
dreadful  blow  to  his  home  and  friends.  Happily  he  was  not 
entirely  without  the  ministry  of  kind  hands  and  sympathetic 
hearts  as  he  approached  and  walked  through  the  valley  of 
death.    A  Northern  gentleman  and  his  wife,  of  the  Christian 


186 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Commission,  finding  out  from  Lieutenant  Deems  that  he  was 
the  son  of  a  Methodist  clergyman,  did  all  they  could  for  him, 
and  were  so  thoughtful  and  good  (God  richly  bless  them!)  as 
to  cut  off  a  lock  of  his  hair  and  see  that  it,  together  with  the 
lieutenant's  sash  and  diary,  finally  reached  the  hands  of  his 
parents.  Moreover,  they  marked  the  soldier's  grave,  and  wrote 
to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Deems  in  such  a  way  that  at  the  close  of  the 
war  it  was  found  by  his  family,  and  the  remains  transferred  to 
the  cemetery  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.  By  a  strange  providence, 
long  after  the  war,  Dr.  Deems  met  this  same  gentleman  while 
traveling  on  a  train  in  the  North,  and  met  his  wife  while 
traveling  in  the  South.  Acts  of  Christian  kindness  toward 
enemies  on  both  sides  of  the  line,  such  as  the  one  just  recorded, 
relieve  oiu"  Civil  War  of  some  of  its  darkness  and  make  us 
hopeful  for  humanity. 

After  the  death  of  his  soldier  son  Dr.  Deems  flung  himself 
into  the  work  of  teaching,  preaching,  and  the  soldiers'  orphan 
fund  with,  if  possible,  even  more  consecration  than  ever. 
During  the  fall  he  was  saddened  by  the  fatal  illness  and  death 
of  his  faithful  servant  Rachel,  to  whom  he  makes  a  touching 
allusion  in  his  journal.  At  the  close  of  1863  Dr.  Deems  saw 
that  it  was  useless  longer  to  attempt  to  carry  on  his  school ; 
so  he  rented  a  house  in  the  suburbs  of  Raleigh,  sold  out  at 
Wilson,  and  in  the  face  of  fearful  odds  moved  to  the  State 
capital. 

From  His  Journal 

"Monday,  December  28th,  Wilson.  Still  amid  the  horrors 
of  packing,  and  no  prospect  of  removal.  All  things  are  dread- 
fully upset,  but  this  evening  I  have  been  casting  my  care  on 
the  Lord  and  remembering  what  is  written  :  '  Call  upon  me  in 
the  day  of  trouble ;  I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorify 
me.'  '  Remember  the  word  unto  thy  servant,  upon  which 
thou  hast  caused  me  to  hope.' " 


THE  WAR 


187 


"Tuesday,  29th,  Wednesday,  30th,  Thursday,  31st.  These 
three  days  have  been  as  the  past,  only  more  abundant.  The 
trouble,  care,  physical  labor,  perplexity,  and  loss  of  a  removal 
are  so  distressing  that  I  think  I  will  never  move  again.  I  go 
to  Raleigh.  If  the  capital  of  my  State  fall,  I  go  down  with  it. 
If  not,  I  hope  to  remain  until  peace  comes ;  then  if  I  must 
move  I  will  sell  out  wholly.  It  has  been  the  darkest  year  of 
this  war,  and  still  there  is  no  light.  Our  arms  have  few  suc- 
cesses, the  enemy  many.  Our  legislators  seem  stricken  with 
madness.  All  is  dark.  O  Lord,  teach  me  to  stay  my  heart 
upon  thee!  My  property  is  greatly  diminished,  my  home  is 
totally  broken  up,  my  first-bom  hath  been  slain,  my  servant  is 
dead,  my  children's  prospect  of  education  is  restricted,  and 
many  of  my  friends  are  wounded  or  prisoners,  or  in  the  enemy's 
lines,  or  in  great  bereavement.  '  Our  hght  affliction,  which  is 
but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory.'  " 

The  year  1864  opened  in  gloom  for  the  South,  especially 
for  Dr.  Deems.  The  first  days  were  spent  in  moving  his  family 
into  the  Raleigh  house,  which  was  named  "Villula."  The 
claims  of  the  Newbern  district  kept  him  away  from  home  most 
of  the  time,  and  the  irregularities  of  trains  often  led  to  his 
sleeping  on  benches  and  goods-boxes  in  railway  stations. 
These  exposures  aggravated  his  physical  ailments  in  his  eye, 
his  ear,  and  his  lame  ankle.  Nevertheless  he  wrought  prodi- 
giously and  successfully,  bringing  up  the  soldiers'  orphan  fund 
to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  In  November  the  state  of 
affairs  was  such  that  he  was  again  compelled  to  break  up  his 
home. 

From  His  Journal 

"Tuesday,  November  2 2d,  to  Friday,  November  25th, 
Raleigh.    Days  of  extraordinary  labor  and  trouble.  Broke 


188 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


up  my  establishment  at  Villula  and  put  my  furniture  about  at 
different  places  in  Raleigh.  Cold  weather  and  very  heavy 
work.  I  could  not  have  gone  through  my  toils  if  the  blessed 
Lord  had  not  sustained  me  with  the  promise,  '  As  thy  days,  so 
shall  thy  strength  be.'  Saturday,  December  31st.  Blessed  be 
God,  who  hath  kept  my  feet  from  falling,  my  eyes  from  tears, 
and  my  soul  from  death!  Amen." 

At  length  Dr.  Deems  entered  upon  the  eventful  year  1865. 
War  matters  for  the  first  three  months  engrossed  the  attention 
of  everybody.  When  the  end  came  in  April  it  found  Dr. 
Deems's  family  living  in  the  home  of  the  Hon.  D.  M.  Bar- 
ringer,  in  Raleigh. 

From  His  Journal 

"Saturday,  March  i8th,  Raleigh.  Johnston  meeting  Sher- 
man below  Raleigh.  Monday,  March  20th.  Generals  Beau- 
regard and  Jordan  spent  the  evening  with  us  until  eleven 
o'clock.  Mrs.  Barringer's  entertainment  very  handsome,  and 
Beauregard's  conversation  agreeable.  He  appeared  thought- 
ful and  a  little  sad,  I  thought.  He  nevertheless  expressed 
himself  as  hopeful  of  the  Confederate  cause." 

"  Wednesday,  April  5th.  News  came  that  Richmond  had 
been  evacuated.  A  terrible  catastrophe.  April  8th.  Minnie 
came  out  of  the  lines  with  Colonel  McKoy.  Joy  at  the 
safety  of  my  child.  April  loth.  Governor  Vance  to-night 
informed  me  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  upon  Raleigh. 
Tuesday,  April  1 1  th.  Great  excitement  in  the  city.  People 
leaving.    I  am  making  preparations  to  go. 

"  On  Wednesday  morning,  April  1 2th,  I  left  Raleigh  in  a 
box-car  with  several  other  persons,  on  my  way  westward  to 
keep  in  advance  of  the  army,  as  General  Johnston  is  faUing 
back  and  Sherman  will  press  forward.  On  my  way  to  Greens- 
boro I  heard  that  General  Lee  had  surrendered  to  Grant. 


THE  WAR 


189 


The  news  is  a  terrible  blow  to  our  hopes  of  the  final  success 
of  the  Confederate  cause.  While  in  Greensboro  Johnston 
made  his  headquarters  near  the  town,  and  an  armistice  was 
held  between  Generals  Johnston  and  Sherman,  and  terms  were 
submitted  which  we  supposed  might  secure  something  to  us 
from  the  wreck. 

"  In  the  meantime  the  news  reached  us  that  President  Lin- 
coln had  been  assassinated.  It  was  doubted  by  many,  but  it 
seemed  to  me  to  be  true  and  dreadful.  It  will  be  greatly  to 
the  injiuy  of  the  South.  We  seem  to  have  a  succession  of 
horrors.    I  was  ill  all  the  while  in  Greensboro." 

"Easter  Sunday,  April  i6th.  No  services  were  held  in 
any  of  the  churches  of  this  city  to-day.  My  son  Frank  ar- 
rived, with  Hospital  No.  7,  from  Raleigh.  Sunday,  April 
30th.  Preached  in  Salisbury.  The  armistice  ceased,  where- 
upon Johnston  surrendered.  The  war  ended  and  our  cause  was 
lost!  Oh,  the  precious  blood  and  treasure  expended!  But 
as  '  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the  church,"  so  all 
this  sowing  may  arise  in  a  glorious  harvest  hereafter. 

"  '  O  God,  clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  thee,  but 
righteousness  and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of  thy  throne.' 

"  But  it  is  horrible  to  have  no  country ! " 

After  recovering  in  a  measure  from  the  blow  caused  by  the 
tragic  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Deems  boarded  in  Raleigh  and  to 
the  end  of  the  year  wrought  with  what  heart  he  could  as  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  Newbem  district. 

The  North  Carolina  Conference,  which  met  in  Raleigh  in 
December,  elected  him  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference, 
granted  him  permission  to  go  to  New  York  City  and  establish 
a  religious  newspaper,  whose  purpose  should  be  the  promotion 
of  the  spirit  of  unity  between  North  and  South,  and  passed 
handsome  resolutions  concerning  him. 


IdO 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


From  His  Journal 

"Tuesday,  December  19th.  Left  Raleigh,  left  dear  North 
Carolina,  started  to  my  new  Northern  work.  O  God,  if  thou 
go  not  with  me,  lead  me  not  up  hence!  Friday,  December 
2  2d.  Reached  New  York  at  night.  Saturday,  December  23d. 
We  are  staying  at  the  National  Hotel  on  Cortlandt  Street. 
Sunday,  December  24th.  Attended  services  at  Trinity.  Mon- 
day, December  25th.  Christmas!  Services  in  Trinity.  All 
the  remainder  of  the  year  engaged  in  securing  lodgings,  office, 
and  contracts  for  printing.  Put  my  family  at  French's  Hotel, 
corner  of  Frankfort  Street  and  City  Hall  Square.  Office  [of 
the  '  Watchman  ']  at  No.  1 19  Nassau  Street,  Room  21.  Print- 
ing done  by  Gray  &  Green,  corner  Jacob  and  Frankfort  streets." 


CHAPTER  VII 


SETTLING   IN  NEW  YORK,  1866-70 


■TUDENTS  of  the  Civil  War  between  the  States  have 


O  often  expressed  wonder  over  the  fact  that  after  such  a 
long,  desperate,  and  stupendous  strife  there  should  have  ensued 
such  a  speedy,  real,  and  complete  reconciliation.  Is  there  any 
other  explanation  of  this  grand  historical  fact  than  that,  first, 
it  was  not  really  a  popular  war, — a  people's  war, — but  one 
sprung  upon  them ;  and,  secondly,  that  the  Southern  people, 
as  a  rule,  did  sincerely  accept  the  decision  of  the  war?  There 
was  no  general  desire  upon  their  part  to  destroy  the  Union. 
Those  who  were  participants  in  that  great  conflict,  whether  so 
voluntarily  or,  as  was  the  case  with  the  vast  majority,  such  by 
the  force  of  circumstances,  and  all  fair-minded  students  of  the 
war,  recognize  the  fact  that,  but  for  certain  unnecessarily  harsh 
and  vindictive  post-bellum  legislation,  reconciliation  of  the  two 
sections,  and  consequently  rehabihtation  of  the  South,  would 
have  obtained  much  sooner  than  it  did. 

To  cite  but  one  of  hundreds  of  similarly  significant  episodes, 
recall  how  men  gazed  with  wonder,  and  all  patriotic  men  with 
hearts  full  of  joy  and  satisfaction,  at  the  spectacle  of  the  most 
prominent  Southern  generals  acting  as  pall-bearers  to  those 
whom  the  fortunes  of  war  had  aforetime  made  their  van- 
quishers ;  the  now  feeble,  gray-haired  ex-Confederate  leader, 
Joseph  E.  Johnston,  following  the  bier  of  Sherman,  and  white- 


191 


192 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


headed  old  Simon  Buckner  following  Grant's  body  to  the  grave ! 
All  such  things  showed  the  existence  of  a  patriotism  which, 
outlasting  the  war,  made  speedy  reconciliation  not  only  a  pos- 
sibility, but  a  fact,  and  the  presence  of  influences  which  said, 
even  before  the  echoes  of  the  last  gun  had  died  away,  "  Now 
bring  together,  readjust,  and  insure  those  conditions  most  fa- 
vorable to  the  speediest  reunion!" 

Filled  with  such  true  patriotism.  Dr.  Deems  looked  over 
the  desolate  field,  and  considered  himself,  and  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  he  could  do  the  most  good,  with  his  special 
talents  and  influence,  by  publishing  in  the  North  a  rehgious 
and  literary  paper  devoted  to  the  timely  and  supremely  im- 
portant mission  of  bringing  about  a  good  state  of  feeling  be- 
tween the  sections. 

Before  leaving  North  Carolina  he  laid  the  plan  of  his  paper 
before  the  people  and  secured  six  hundred  dollars  in  subscrip- 
tions. This  was  the  extent  of  the  financial  basis  of  the 
"  Watchman  "  enterprise.  More  than  half  this  sum  was  ex- 
pended in  publishing  the  first  number,  which  appeared  Janu- 
ary lo,  1866.  It  was  a  bright,  clean,  elegant-looking  paper, 
and  drew  out  high  encomiums  from  the  best  periodicals  in 
both  the  North  and  the  South. 

The  undertaking  was  bold  almost  to  rashness.  All  the  mem- 
bers of  the  family  who  were  old  enough  assisted  in  some  way 
to  get  out  the  first  issue.  Fifty-two  numbers  were  published. 
All  the  editing  and  most  of  the  correspondence,  bookkeeping, 
and  mailing  were  done  by  Dr.  Deems  and  his  eldest  son, 
Francis  M.  Deems.  There  was  a  gratifying  growth  of  the 
subscription  list,  but  the  high  quality  of  the  paper,  the  lack  of 
capital,  the  torn  state  of  the  country,  and  the  poverty  of  the 
South  made  the  publication  of  the  "  Watchman  "  an  increas- 
ing burden.  Harassed  in  body  and  mind,  Dr.  Deems,  usually 
most  sanguine,  toward  the  end  of  the  year  went  through  sea- 
sons of  deepest  depression.  In  October  the  following  four 
entries  in  his  diary  speak  volumes:  "October  2 2d.  Exceed- 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


193 


ingly  gloomy.  October  23d.  Very  nervous.  October  24th. 
Threatened  with  congestion  of  the  heart.  October  25th.  Oh, 
that  I  had  the  wings  of  a  dove;  then  I  would  fly  away!" 
The  "  Watchman  "  ceased  at  the  close  of  one  year,  but  not 
without  having  accomplished  much  good.  In  view  of  the 
many  limitations  under  which  it  was  published,  it  must  be 
conceded  that  the  late  James  Harper,  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  firm  of  Harper  Brothers,  was  correct  when  he 
pronounced  it  "  the  greatest  feat  of  publication  ever  achieved 
in  New  York." 

The  failure  of  the  "Watchman"  was  to  Dr.  Deems  an  al- 
most deadly  blow,  and  he  appeared  to  be  confronted  by  defeat 
in  his  whole  life.  But  God  had  some  better  thing  in  store  for 
him,  as  we  shall  soon  see ;  nor  was  he  left  entirely  without 
faith  and  hope,  for  we  find  the  following  entry  in  his  diary 
written  across  the  week  beginning  December  12,  1866:  "A 
week  of  darkening  prospects  so  far  as  the  '  Watchman  '  is  con- 
cerned. But  my  faith  in  the  heavenly  Father,  that  he  will 
overrule  all  things  for  my  good,  is  triumphant." 

This  brings  us  to  the  supreme  point  in  Dr.  Deems's  life,  the 
founding  of  the  Church  of  the  Strajigers.  The  story  can  never 
be  told  again  as  well  as  it  has  been  in  that  deeply  interesting 
little  book,  "A  Romance  of  Providence;  or,  A  History  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers."  We  refer  to  this  work  the  reader 
who  may  care  to  enter  more  deeply  than  we  can  into  the  de- 
tails of  the  organization  and  work  of  this  unique  church. 
As  Dr.  Deems  personally  supervised  and  approved  of  this  ac- 
count of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  written  in  1887  by  Mr. 
Joseph  S.  Taylor,  of  New  York,  a  valued  friend  of  Dr.  Deems 
and  an  officer  in  the  church,  we  have  secured  Mr.  Taylor's 
permission  to  insert  in  these  memoirs  all  that  follows  in  this 
chapter. 

"  It  was  amid  Dr.  Deems's  terrific  struggles  with  the  '  Watch- 
man '  that  the  first  steps  were  made  which  led  toward  the 


194 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Church  of  the  Strangers.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Dr. 
Deems  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  still  in  such  good  standing  there  as  to  have  been  elected 
by  his  conference  to  the  General  Conference  of  his  church, 
which  was  held  in  New  Orleans  in  April,  1866,  at  which  a 
number  of  votes  were  cast  for  him  as  bishop.  This  conference 
took  him  one  month  from  his  work  on  the  '  Watchman.'  He 
had  no  ecclesiastical  associations  in  New  York ;  the  differences 
between  the  Northern  and  the  Southern  Methodist  churches 
never  were  so  great,  the  feelings  never  so  bitter.  Dr.  Deems 
had  been  in  the  Confederacy  through  the  whole  fight,  and,  as 
he  once  said,  walked  the  streets  of  New  York  and  engaged  in 
his  daily  work  with  the  weight  of  Andersonville  prison  around 
his  neck.  Neither  his  own  family  nor  Southern  people  coming 
to  purchase  goods  could  attend  church  in  New  York  ;  for  almost 
everywhere  the  pulpit  resounded  with  denunciations  of '  rebels ' 
and  the  '  rebellion,'  and  the  voice  of  the  gospel  seemed  hushed 
in  the  land.  Dr.  Deems  has  said  that  every  Sunday  through 
the  winter  and  spring  he  had  received  a  lashing  in  church. 
One  Sunday  afternoon,  as  he  was  then  boarding  in  Fifteenth 
Street,  he  went  to  St.  George's  Church,  of  which  the  senior 
Dr.  Tyng  was  rector.  He  was  very  tired,  having  worked  hard 
during  the  week.  The  sexton  refused  to  show  him  a  seat ;  he 
must  wait  till  the  pewholders  were  in.  He  stood  twenty  min- 
utes, until  he  became  so  weary  that  he  was  compelled  to  re- 
turn to  his  room  without  having  the  comfort  of  the  service. 
He  said  that  that  made  him  determined,  if  ever  he  had  rule  in 
a  church,  no  man  should  have  to  stand  one  minute  who  came 
in  one  minute  before  the  service  opened.  Now  (1887)  St. 
George's  is  a  free  church,  free  to  all  strangers. 

"  Invitations  to  deliver  addresses  began  to  reach  the  doctor. 
The  American  Bible  Society,  which  had  sent  him  as  its  general 
agent  to  North  Carolina,  asked  him  to  make  a  speech  at  its 
anniversary ;  this  called  attention  to  him  afresh.    There  were 


SETTLIXG  IN  NEW  YORK 


195 


noble  Christians  who  rose  above  sectional  strife  and  acknow- 
ledged Christianity  wherever  they  saw  its  fruits. 

"On  Sunday,  July  15,  1866,  Dr.  Deems  was  invited  to 
preach  a  sermon  before  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion of  the  Hedding  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  Jersey 
City.  Among  those  who  were  present  was  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Frerichs,  the  artist.  That  lady  had  known  the  doctor  when 
he  was  president  of  the  college  in  Greensboro,  N.  C,  but  had 
not  seen  him  for  years.  After  hearing  this  sermon  she  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  house  where  he  was  dining,  and  accompanied 
him  to  the  ferry-boat,  and  employed  the  time  with  importuni- 
ties that  he  should  begin  preaching  regularly  in  New  York. 
His  replies  that  there  was  no  church  of  his  denomination  in 
the  city,  that  there  would  be  no  propriety  in  attempting  to  es- 
tablish a  Southern  Methodist  church,  that  he  was  making  a 
violent  effort  to  support  his  family  and  pay  his  debts,  seemed 
to  make  no  impression  upon  her.  She  spoke  as  if  she  regarded 
herself  a  prophetess  sent  to  direct  a  servant  of  the  Lord.  As 
they  parted  she  concluded  her  appeal  by  saying :  '  I  am  very 
sure  that  God  intends  you  to  preach  in  New  York.  I  do  beg 
of  you  to  promise  me  that  you  will  preach  just  four  weeks 
somewhere  in  New  York,  even  if  it  is  in  a  garret  or  a  cellar  or 
a  tub!'  The  promise  was  extorted  that  an  effort  would  be 
made  to  gratify  her  desire. 

"  In  accordance  with  this  promise,  next  day  Dr.  Deems  went 
to  the  university  on  Washingtr)n  Square  (of  which  institution 
he  is  now,  1887,  one  of  the  councilors)  to  see  what  he  could 
do.  He  had  seen  the  announcement  of  some  preaching  there. 
Upon  his  arrival  he  found  a  quiet,  meek-mannered  httle  jani- 
tor. The  doctor  asked  him  if  a  place  for  preaching  could  be 
hired  in  the  university.  'For  whom?'  inquired  the  janitor, 
inspecting  the  doctor  from  head  to  foot.  '  For  me,'  was  the 
reply.  '  No,'  said  the  janitor ;  '  we  have  no  place  to  suit  you.* 
This  janitor  died  shortly  after,  and  Dr.  Deems  never  became 


196 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


well  enough  acquainted  with  him  to  ask  what  he  meant  by 
stating  that  there  was  no  place  that  would  suit  Iwn.  It  ap- 
peared that  while  the  eloquent  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  was  occupy- 
ing the  large  chapel  of  the  university  an  eccentric  preacher 
was  holding  forth  every  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  smaller 
chapel,  and  that  the  latter  apartment  could  be  obtained  for 
morning  service  at  twenty-five  dollars  a  month.  That  seemed 
to  be  within  his  reach ;  at  any  rate,  he  determined  to  give  out 
of  his  poverty  that  much  to  the  Lord.  On  Saturday,  July 
2 1  st,  he  put  this  notice  in  the  New  York  '  Herald ' :  '  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Deems,  of  North  Carolina,  will  preach  in  the  chapel  of 
the  university  to-morrow  at  eleven  o'clock.'  On  Sunday,  July 
2  2,  1 866,  he  repaired  to  the  chapel,  where  he  had  to  be  his 
own  sexton  and  precentor,  and  employed  in  the  service  such 
hymns  as  everybody  knew,  for  there  were  no  books.  The 
congregation  consisted  of  sixteen  persons.  The  persons  not 
of  the  preacher's  family  were,  it  is  believed,  the  following :  Mr. 
W.  H.  Chase,  Mr.  Clement  Disosway,  Mrs.  and  Miss  Frerichs, 
Mr.  Nehemiah  Pratt,  General  Richardson,  of  Tennessee,  J.  M. 
Roberts,  Dr.  N.  W.  Seat,  Mr.  S.  T.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Tucker,  Mr.  W.  J.  Woodward,  Mr.  A.  C.  Worth.  (Six  are 
dead  [i886].)  The  text  was,  'Philip  went  down  to  the  city 
of  Samaria,  and  preached  Christ  unto  them.'  At  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  service  it  was  announced  that  the  doctor  would 
preach  on  the  next  Sunday,  and  on  the  following  Saturday  the 
announcement  was  repeated  in  the  '  Herald.'  On  Sunday,  the 
29th,  there  were  over  thirty  persons  present.  On  Sunday, 
August  5th,  there  were  over  seventy  persons  present.  As  the 
preacher's  promise  did  not  bind  him  beyond  the  month  and 
as  he  saw  no  way  of  continuing  this  work,  he  announced  at 
the  close  of  the  service  that  for  three  weeks  he  had  enjoyed 
Paul's  pleasure  of  preaching  in  his  own  hired  house,  but  that 
Paul  must  have  found  tent-making  in  the  East  more  profitable 
than  the  preacher  found  journalism  in  the  West,  and  that  con- 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


197 


sequently  the  next  Sunday  would  close  this  series  of  sermons, 
as  he  could  not  afford  to  preach  for  nothing  and  supply  a  place 
for  service.  A  large  number  of  those  who  had  been  attracted 
to  the  service  were  Southerners.  One  of  them,  General  Rich- 
ardson, of  Tennessee,  asked  the  doctor  whether,  if  a  place 
were  provided,  he  would  continue  to  preach ;  and  the  reply 
was  that  the  preacher's  Sundays  were  wholly  unoccupied  and 
he  would  willingly  preach  for  those  who  desired  to  hear  him. 
Whereupon  it  was  proposed  that  a  collection  be  taken  up  and 
that  Dr.  Deems  be  requested  to  continue  preaching.  The  col- 
lection a  little  more  than  paid  the  month's  rent.  On  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday,  the  1 2th  of  August,  the  chapel  was  packed ; 
there  had  dropped  in  many  whose  churches  were  closed.  It 
was  then  proposed  that  there  be  some  regular  organization  to 
afford  a  free  place  of  worship  for  strangers  from  all  parts  of 
the  world  who  might  be  in  the  city. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  service  it  was  resolved  to  form  an  ex- 
ecutive committee  of  gentlemen  of  different  denominations  to 
provide  for  keeping  the  place  open  for  worship.  They  had 
the  following  card  printed,  to  be  distributed  through  the  con- 
gregation and  around  the  neighborhood : 

" '  THE  STRANGERS '  SUNDAY  HOME 

"  '  In  the  chapel  of  the  university,  Washington  Square,  New 
York,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deems,  of  North 
Carolina,  there  is  a  congregation  composed  of  members  of  the 
different  denominations  of  Christians.  Divine  service  is  con- 
ducted every  Sunday,  and  no  distinction  of  sectarianism  is 
allowed.  The  worship  of  God  is  the  simple  object  of  the  as- 
semblage. It  is  specially  designed  for  strangers  who  visit  the 
city  and  for  particular  pastoral  oversight  of  the  young  men  who 
have  recently  engaged  in  business  in  New  York.  A  Sunday- 
school  assembles  at  nine  o'clock,  and  the  public  service  begins 
punctually  at  half-past  ten  o'clock.    The  seats  are  free.  All 


198 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


are  cordially  invited.  Visitors  to  the  city,  if  sick  or  needing 
a  pastor,  can  have  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deems,  whose 

residence  for  the  present  is  . 

"  '  This  enterprise  is  maintained  wholly  by  voluntary  contri- 
butions. You  are  respectfully  requested  to  assist  us.  We  so- 
licit donations  or  weekly  subscriptions.  If  you  are  residing  in 
the  city,  please  say  how  much  you  will  pay  weekly,  and  on 
Sunday  deposit  your  contribution  in  the  basket,  in  an  envelope 
with  your  name  upon  it,  so  that  you  may  be  duly  credited. 
The  executive  committee  are:  Major  C.  L.  Nelson,  23  East 
Thirty-seventh  Street ;  Dr.  Gardner  (of  Evans,  Gardner  & 
Co.),  380  Broadway ;  Colonel  B.  B.  Lewis  (of  Lewis,  Daniel 
&  Co.),  21  Nassau  Street;  S.  T.  Taylor,  349  Canal  Street; 
Dr.  Seat,  23  West  Thirty-first  Street ;  J.  M.  Roberts  (of  Ring, 
Ross  &  Roberts),  86  Front  Street;  K.  M.  Murchison,  188 
Front  Street;  Dr.  F.  M.  Garrett  (of  Garrett,  Young  &  Co.), 
33  Warren  Street;  R.  C.  Daniel  (of  Lewis,  Daniel  &  Co.),  21 
Nassau  Street;  and  J.  L.  Gaines  (of  Harris,  Gaines  &  Co.), 
15  Whitehall  Street.' 

"  It  will  be  observed  that  the  pastor's  residence  was  left  in 
blank ;  the  income  was  so  small  and  he  was  so  compelled  to 
study  small  economies  that  he  had  to  look  out  for  the  cheap- 
est boarding-place  in  which  he  and  his  family  could  live  in  any 
degree  of  respectability.  It  is  proper  to  add  that  a  Sunday- 
school  was  formed  in  the  very  beginning,  and  put  into  the 
charge  of  Mr.  R.  C.  Daniel,  of  Kentucky,  of  the  firm  of  Lewis, 
Daniel  &  Co.,  then  brokers  in  Wall  Street. 

"  The  large  chapel  of  the  university  was  a  much  more  com- 
modious apartment  than  the  little  chapel  in  which  we  wor- 
shiped. It  was  very  beautiful.  It  has  since  been  cut  up  into 
rooms  for  office  purposes.*    At  that  time  it  was  occupied  by 

*  In  1895  the  university  building  was  taken  down  and  a  new  structure 
erected  on  its  site. 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


199 


a  Protestant  Episcopal  congregation,  in  charge  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Francis  L.  Hawks.  Dr.  Hawks  was  a  North  Carolinian, 
and  had  distinguished  himself  at  the  bar  in  his  own  State  be- 
fore he  entered  the  Episcopal  ministry.  He  had  been  rector 
of  the  old  St.  Thomas's  Church  when  it  stood  at  the  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Houston  Street.  He  was  magnificently  gifted, 
a  man  of  great  natural  eloquence,  of  varied  learning,  and  of 
surprising  powers  of  elocution.  During  the  Civil  War  he  had 
some  trouble  in  New  York  and  had  gone  to  New  Orleans.  On 
his  return  to  New  York  his  friends  rallied  about  him  and  were 
preparing  to  build  him  a  new  church,  the  nucleus  of  which  was 
then  the  congregation  of  the  large  chapel  of  the  university. 
Dr.  Hawks  died  on  the  26th  of  September,  1866.  In  his  last 
illness  he  frequently  sent  for  Dr.  Deems.  They  had  both  re- 
cently been  elected  to  chairs  in  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
hna,  and  had  both  declined.  In  one  of  the  latest  interviews 
between  the  two  gentlemen,  Dr.  Hawks  said  to  a  friend  that 
his  chief  ambition  had  been  disappointed ;  that  for  years  it 
had  been  his  desire  to  be  president  of  the  University  of  North 
CaroHna  and  have  Dr.  Deems  as  his  lieutenant,  in  the  assur- 
ance that  they  two  could  make  the  university  one  of  the 
greatest  institutions  in  the  country.  He  once  said :  '  Dr. 
Deems,  three  times  I  have  been  offered  the  miter,  and  three 
times  have  I  put  it  aside.  Never  let  your  church  make  you 
bishop ;  God  has  some  better  thing  for  you.  Your  calling  is  to 
preach  Christ— Christ  crucified.  Pursue  that  steadily  and  have 
no  doubt  that  God  will  give  you  great  success  in  this  great  city.' 

"The  year  1867  was  a  struggle  for  existence.  Upon  the 
death  of  Dr.  Hawks,  negotiations  were  made  for  the  occupancy 
of  the  large  chapel ;  but  the  '  Strangers'  Sunday  Home '  could 
not  be  removed  till  the  first  Sunday  in  May,  1867.  Its  ac- 
commodations were  then  increased  fourfold,  but  it  was  still  a 
mere  assembly  without  church  organization. 

"  In  the  autumn  of  1867  many  persons  expecting  to  remain 


200 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


in  the  city,  some  a  longer,  some  a  shorter  time,  some  perhaps 
permanently,  came  to  Dr.  Deems  offering  their  church  letters ; 
but  there  was  no  '  church.'  These  repeated  offers  led  to  much 
thought  and  prayer;  consultation  also  was  had  with  the  au- 
thorities of  the  church  of  which  Dr.  Deems  was  then  a  minis- 
ter, and  with  other  godly  and  learned  persons.  The  result 
was  a  determination  to  organize,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  a 
free,  independent  church  of  Jesus  Christ.  On  the  last  two 
Sundays  in  December,  1867,  it  was  pubhcly  announced  that 
on  the  first  Sunday  in  January,  1868,  such  a  church  would  be 
organized.   The  following  was  the  paper  read  by  Dr.  Deems : 

" '  It  is  probably  known  to  all  present  that  I  am  a  minister 
of  the  gospel  in  good  and  regular  standing  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  and  a  member  in  particular  of  the 
North  Carohna  Annual  Conference. 

"  '  In  July,  1866,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Christian  people 
of  several  denominations,  I  began  preaching  in  the  university 
of  this  city.  At  their  urgency  these  services  were  continued 
until  a  congregation  was  formed  of  many  who  hold  this  as 
their  regular  place  of  worship,  and  of  many  others  who  are  in 
occasional  or  very  frequent  attendance.  The  wants  of  many 
strangers  visiting  New  York,  and  of  many  residents  whose  ec- 
clesiastical connections  have  not  been  permanently  formed, 
seem  to  demand  the  existence  of  such  an  institution.  So  strong 
.is  the  conviction  of  intelligent  and  devout  people  that  such  an 
undertaking  should  be  persevered  in  that  they  united  in  a  re- 
quest to  the  bishops  of  the  church  of  which  I  am  a  clergyman, 
that  I  might  be  returned  as  pastor  of  this  flock  which  God's 
providence  has  seemed  to  commit  to  my  charge.  In  accor- 
dance with  this  expressed  wish,  the  bishops  at  their  annual 
meeting  directed  me  to  remain,  and,  in  accordance  with  that 
action,  the  bishop  presiding  at  the  session  of  my  conference, 
lately  held,  has  appointed  me  to  this  work. 

" '  That  all  things  may  be  done  decently  and  in  order,  as 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


201 


the  Apostle  Paul  directs,  it  appears  to  be  necessary  that  some 
organization  be  made  which  shall  give  us  a  place  among  the 
churches  of  Jesus  Christ.  All  of  you  who  are  communicants 
naturally  desire  to  be  acknowledged  as  regular  members  of  the 
church  militant,  and  that,  when  providential  circumstances  in- 
dicate the  necessity  of  removal,  you  may  be  able  to  bear  with 
you  the  evidence  of  having  been  orderly  disciples  of  Christ  and 
under  Christian  pastoral  direction. 

" '  In  Article  XIX.  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  in 
Article  XIII.  of  the  Articles  of  Religion  of  the  church  of  which 
I  am  a  minister,  it  is  set  forth  that :  "  The  visible  church  of 
Christ  is  a  congregation  of  faithful  men,  in  which  the  pure 
Word  of  God  is  preached  and  the  sacraments  duly  adminis- 
tered according  to  Christ's  ordinance  in  all  those  things  that 
of  necessity  are  requisite  to  the  same." 

" '  In  the  preface  to  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America 
it  is  said  that :  "  It  is  a  most  invaluable  part  of  that  blessed 
liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us  free,  that  in  his  worship 
different  forms  and  usages  may  without  offense  be  allowed, 
provided  the  substance  of  the  Faith  be  kept  entire ;  and  that, 
in  every  Church,  what  cannot  be  clearly  determined  to  belong 
to  Doctrine  must  be  referred  to  Discipline ;  and  therefore,  by 
common  consent  and  authority,  may  be  altered,  abridged,  en- 
larged, amended,  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  as  may  seem  most 
convenient  for  the  edification  of  the  people,  'according  to  the 
various  exigencies  of  times  and  occasions.' " 

" '  In  its  Form  of  Government,  Chapter  II.,  Section  IV., 
published  with  its  Confession  of  Faith,  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  sets  forth  that :  "  A 
particular  church  consists  of  a  number  of  professing  Christians, 
with  their  offspring,  voluntarily  associated  together  for  divine 
worship  and  godly  living,  agreeably  to  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
and  submitting  to  a  certain  form  of  government." 


202 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  '  Christianity  exists  subjectively  in  the  rule  of  Christ  in  sim- 
ple individuals,  objectively  as  an  "  organized  visible  society,  as 
a  kingdom  of  Christ  on  earth,  as  a  church."  "The  word 
'  church,'  like  the  Scotch  kirk,  the  German  Kirche,  the  Swed- 
ish kyrka,  and  like  terms  in  the  Slavonic  languages,  must  be 
derived  through  the  Gothic  from  the  Greek  KvpiuKog,  i.e.,  be- 
longing to  the  Lord.  It  may  signify  the  material  house  of 
God,  or  the  local  congregation,  or,  in  the  complex  sense,  the 
organic  unity  of  all  believers." 

"  '  Believing  these  to  be  correct  statements  of  the  truth  as 
touching  this  matter  in  the  hberty  wherewith  Christ  has  made 
us  free  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  that  for  your  edification  the 
gospel  may  be  preached  and  the  sacraments  duly  administered 
and  orderly  discipline  maintained,  it  is  proposed  that  all  who 
are  like-minded  do  form  themselves  into  a  congregation  of 
Christian  people,  of  which  I  am  to  be  the  pastor  so  long  as 
the  providence  of  God  and  the  authorities  of  my  own  branch 
of  Christ's  church  shall  continue  me  in  this  special  office  and 
ministry. 

"  '  That  I  may  surely  know  who  are  minded  to  be  thus  under 
my  pastoral  charge,  I  shall,  if  God  will,  on  the  next  Lord's 
day,  being  the  first  Sunday  in  January,  a.d.  1868,  receive  into 
this  society  all  the  following  persons,  to  wit : 

"'(i)  Such  as  present  letters  showing  their  good  standing 
in  any  branch  of  God's  visible  church ;  (2)  such  as  declare  that 
they  have  so  been  and  desire  so  now  to  be,  but  by  reason  of 
circumstances  which  they  could  not  control  are  not  able  to 
present  letters  of  membership ;  and  (3)  such  as  desire  to  join 
upon  their  sincere  and  hearty  profession  of  faith  in  that  state- 
ment of  Christian  doctrines  commonly  known  as  the  Apostles' 
Creed,  and  of  an  earnest  "  desire  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  and  to  be  saved  from  their  sins." 

"'It  is  understood  (i)  that  all  such  applicants  have  been 
baptized  or  desire  to  receive  Christian  baptism  in  such  mode 


ThL   (IhUKCH   oh   THh  StRANGEKS,  EXTIKIOK. 


SETTLING  h\  NEW  YORK 


203 


as  they  may  of  conscience  elect,  by  sprinkling,  pouring,  or 
immersion ;  (2)  that  all  things  thereafter  necessary  for  the 
proper  ordering  of  the  things  which  Christ  hath  appointed  to 
his  church  shall,  so  far  as  this  congregation  of  faithful  people 
may  be  concerned,  be  by  them  determined  "  according  to  the 
various  exigencies  of  times  and  occasions  " ;  (3)  that  nothing 
hereby  or  herein  done  shall  be  considered  as  affecting  the  re- 
lations to  any  branch  of  Christ's  church  now  held  by  any, 
except  so  far  as  they  themselves  shall  choose ;  nor  as  in  any 
way  or  degree  touching  the  ecclesiastical  relations  of  the  pas- 
tor, or  as  modifying  the  present  position  or  relations  of  such 
pewholders  in  this  chapel  *  or  other  attendants  upon  the  min- 
istry in  this  congregation  as  may  not  feel  perfectly  free  to 
enter  this  Christian  society. 

"  '  Wherefore,  as  many  as  desire  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
benefit  of  this  organization  will  present  themselves  on  the  next 
Lord's  day  at  the  holy  communion,  that  their  names  may  be 
taken  and  registered  as  members  of  the  Christian  society  to 
be  known  for  the  present  by  the  name  which  in  the  past  has 
distinguished  it,  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.' 

"On  the  fifth  day  of  January,  1868,  thirty-two  persons  en- 
rolled themselves  according  to  the  terms  in  the  above  paper, 
and  formed  themselves  into  the  Church  of  the  Strangers; 
whereupon  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  adminis- 
tered. 

"The  Mercer  Street  Church  was  organized  by  the  Third 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  October  25,  1835,  with  twenty-eight 
members,  coming  from  six  different  churches,  but  the  great 
majority  of  them  from  the  Laight  Street  Church,  a  branch  of 
the  Spring  Street  Church. 

"  During  the  summer  of  1834  a  fine  house  of  worship  had 

*  This  alludes  to  a  few  persons  to  whom,  by  special  arrangement,  pews 
had  been  let  by  the  committee. 


204 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


been  erected  on  Mercer  Street,  near  Waverly  Place,  and  the 
congregation  went  immediately  into  their  new  home.  A  call 
was  given  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  at 
the  time  professor  of  sacred  rhetoric  in  Andover  Theological 
Seminary.  He  accepted  the  call,  and  on  November  ii,  1835, 
was  installed  as  first  pastor  of  the  new  church.  The  congre- 
gation and  membership  grew  rapidly  in  numbers  and  wealth, 
and  at  the  end  of  Dr.  Skinner's  pastorate,  February  17,  1848, 
there  were  over  five  hundred  members  on  the  roll.  Dr. 
Skinner  resigned  to  take  the  professorship  of  sacred  rhetoric, 
pastoral  theology,  and  church  government  in  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary. 

"The  Rev.  J.  C.  Stiles,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  succeeded  Dr. 
Skinner,  and  was  installed  June  8,  1848,  coming  from  the 
Shockoe  Hill  (now  Grace  Street)  Church,  Richmond,  Va. 
Dr.  Stiles's  health  failing  him,  he  was  compelled  to  resign  his 
charge,  which  he  did  October  15,  1850.  He  accepted  a 
general  agency  for  the  American  Bible  Society  in  the  South, 
and  subsequently  occupied  a  pastorate  in  New  Haven,  Conn., 
and  then  took  the  lead  in  organizing  the  Southern  Aid  Soci- 
ety to  give  support  to  feeble  churches  in  the  South.  In  his 
latest  years  he  labored  as  an  evangelist  in  Virginia,  Alabama, 
Florida,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  and  Maryland. 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  George  L.  Prentiss  became  the  third  pas- 
tor and  was  installed  April  30,  185 1,  resigning  on  account  of 
ill  health  May  3,  1858.  After  two  years  spent  abroad  Dr. 
Prentiss  returned,  and  by  earnest  work  gathered  about  him  a 
new  church,  now  the  Church  of  the  Covenant.  He  became 
pastor  of  this  church  in  1862,  and  resigned  in  1873  to  accept 
his  present  position  as  professor  of  pastoral  theology,  etc.,  in 
Union  Theological  Seminary. 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Walter  Clarke  was  installed  as  Dr.  Prentiss's 
successor  in  Mercer  Street,  February  16,  1859,  and  resigned 
December  26,  i860.    He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


205 


Russell  Booth,  who  was  pastor  when  the  property  passed  to 
the  Church  of  the  Strangers. 

"  The  whole  number  of  persons  admitted  to  membership  in 
this  church  was  two  thousand  and  twenty-six,  of  whom  seven 
hundred  and  forty-nine  made  profession  of  faith,  and  twelve 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  were  received  by  certificate. 

"In  1869  the  Mercer  Street  Presbyterian  Church  engaged 
lots  from  the  Columbia  College  corporation,  on  which  to  erect 
a  church  for  themselves.  The  accomplishment  of  the  latter 
object  would  throw  their  church  on  the  market.  But  the  pro- 
posed new  church  was  never  built.  On  the  sixteenth  day  of 
September,  1870,  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  united  the 
Mercer  Street  Presbyterian  Church  with  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  on  University  Place.  By  the  terms  of  the  union  the 
new  church  was  called  the  '  Presbyterian  Church  on  University 
Place,'  and  the  elders  and  deacons  of  the  former  churches  be- 
came the  elders  and  deacons  of  the  new  church.  The  Rev. 
Robert  Russell  Booth,  D.D.,  who  had  been  pastor  of  the 
Mercer  Street  Church  since  1861,  was  duly  installed  by  the 
presbytery  on  October  30,  1870,  as  pastor  of  the  union  church. 

"  In  the  meantime  the  Mercer  Street  Church  had  offered 
their  property  to  Dr.  Deems  for  sixty-five  thousand  dollars, 
through  his  friend,  the  late  General  James  Lorimer  Graham, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  University  Place  Presbyterian 
Church.  Dr.  Deems  offered  them  fifty  thousand  dollars  for 
the  property.  Their  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Booth,  said  he 
would  rather  Dr.  Deems  should  have  it  for  fifty  thousand 
dollars  than  any  other  person  for  sixty  thousand. 

"  An  important  providential  factor  in  the  history  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers  must  now  be  introduced.  One  Sun- 
day, during  service  in  the  chapel  of  the  university,  two  ladies 
were  in  attendance,  who  after  the  service  were  introduced  to 
Dr.  Deems  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  K.  Marshall,  of  Vicks- 
burg,  as  '  Mrs.  Crawford  and  her  daughter,  of  Mobile.'  These 


206 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


ladies  were  visiting  New  York,  and  became  interested  in  Dr. 
Deems  as  a  clergyman  of  their  own  denomination.  The 
younger  of  these  ladies,  in  the  summer  of  1869,  became  the 
wife  of  the  late  Cornelius  Vanderbilt.  Mr.  Vanderbilt's  resi- 
dence was  on  the  block  next  adjoining  the  university,  but  he 
never  came  to  the  services  in  that  chapel.  Mr.  Vanderbilt 
had  met  the  doctor  once  before  the  war,  in  i860,  and  was  so 
impressed  with  what  occurred  at  the  interview  that  he  repeated 
the  conversation  a  few  days  before  he  died.  This  combina- 
tion of  circumstances,  and  the  late  acquaintanceship,  and  a 
new  wife,  to  whom  he  was  most  sincerely  devoted,  led  the 
commodore  to  regard  the  work  for  the  strangers  with  favor. 
He  urged  Dr.  Deems  to  visit  him,  and  often  catechized  him 
closely  as  to  his  views  and  plans.  He  admired  the  breadth 
of  this  new  religious  society,  and  believed  in  the  orthodoxy  of 
its  pastor. 

"  The  commodore  had  never  been  a  member  of  any  church  ; 
had  been  a  very  worldly  and  even  profane  man  ;  but  he  had 
from  his  earliest  childhood  the  most  unshaken  faith  in  the 
Bible  as  the  inspired  Word  of  God.  He  became  impatient  at 
any  contradiction  of  this  idea ;  he  regarded  that  man  untrust- 
worthy who  did  not  receive  the  Bible  as  the  Word  of  God. 
Toward  the  close  of  life,  when  he  was  in  great  agony,  he  ex- 
pressed the  fear  that  after  his  death  it  might  be  supposed  that 
he  had  been  influenced  on  that  question  by  his  friend  and 
pastor,  and  so  he  said  to  him :  '  Doctor,  when  I  am  gone  I 
leave  you  to  do  justice  to  my  memory.  I  want  it  known  that 
I  always  believed  the  Bible,  and  on  that  subject  you  have 
had  no  more  influence  over  me  than  this  fan  which  I  hold  in 
my  hand.'  Although  he  did  become  more  attentive  to  reli- 
gious matters  and  more  devout  before  his  death,  yet  at  this  pe- 
riod of  our  history  he  believed  that  there  was  such  a  thing  as 
genuine  religion,  and  that  it  was  founded  upon  a  belief  in  the 
Bible  as  the  Word  of  God.   Somehow  he  heard  of  the  move- 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


207 


ment  upon  the  part  of  the  Mercer  Street  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  made  up  his  mind  to  put  it  under  the  control  of  Dr. 
Deems.  We  cannot  do  better  than  to  give  the  doctor's  ac- 
count of  the  presentation  in  his  own  words,  as  reported  in  the 
'  Homiletic  Monthly,'  of  New  York,  July,  1880,  and  afterward 
republished  in  a  London  periodical,  from  which  it  is  here  re- 
produced : 

" '  A  short  time  before  he  started  for  the  East,  our  reporter 
called  on  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deems,  to  learn  from  him  how  he 
came  in  possession  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  The  fol- 
lowing is  his  account : 

"  '  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  the  manual  of  the  church  shows  how 
I  came  to  be  preaching  in  New  York  in  1866.  Before  the 
organization  of  any  church  and  while  I  was  simply  preaching 
to  strangers,  a  lady  of  high  character  living  in  Mobile,  when 
on  a  visit  to  New  York,  always  attended  our  service  with  her 
daughter.  With  them  I  became  acquainted.  The  daughter 
was  that  excellent  woman  whom  Commodore  Vanderbilt  had 
the  good  fortune  to  make  his  second  wife.  I  had  very  slight 
personal  acquaintance  with  the  commodore,  and  had  not  seen 
him  in  six  or  seven  years,  so  I  supposed  that  I  should  prob- 
ably not  again  meet  my  fair  hearers.  I  learned  afterward  that 
it  had  been  intended  that  I  should  celebrate  the  marriage,  and 
that  it  would  have  been  done  but  for  my  absence.  I  also 
learned,  after  they  had  been  married  some  weeks  and  were 
living  within  a  block  of  the  place  where  I  was  preaching,  that 
there  was  a  feeling  that  I  was  neglecting  them.  I  have  never 
gone  after  rich  people  nor  particularly  avoided  them,  but  when 
a  man  conspicuous  for  wealth  or  position  desires  to  know  me 
he  must  always  seek  me.  That  was  the  only  thing  that  had 
kept  me  from  visiting  the  commodore  and  his  new  bride.  But 
so  soon  as  I  discovered  that  it  was  expected,  I  called  and  was 
very  warmly  welcomed. 

"  '  "  The  commodore  paid  me  special  attention  ;  we  con- 


208 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


versed  very  freely,  and  I  did  not  hesitate,  when  it  was  proper, 
to  introduce  the  subject  of  religion  and  talk  on  it— I  trust  in 
a  natural  and  proper  way.  On  all  the  visits  the  commodore 
catechized  me  carefully  about  my  preaching,  my  past  history, 
and  my  expectations  of  the  future.  He  was  always  answered 
frankly.  One  evening  in  the  sitting-room  the  conversation 
ran  upon  clerical  beggars.  I  acknowledged  that  in  early  hfe 
I  had  had  some  reputation  in  that  line,  but  that  I  deprecated 
the  whole  business.  '  Now,'  said  I,  '  here  I  am.  Have  been 
preaching  two  years  almost  within  earshot  of  the  commodore. 
The  rooms  which  I  have  occupied  have  been  overrun  with 
hearers.  People  have  often  said  to  me,  "  Why  don't  you  see 
Mr.  Lenox  or  Mr.  Stewart  or  Mr.  Astor  or  Commodore  Van- 
derbilt,  and  ask  them  to  build  you  the  Church  of  the  Strangers? 
They  ought  to  do  it  for  the  good  of  the  city."  And  yet,'  I 
added,  '  the  commodore  here  will  bear  me  witness  that  I  have 
never  solicited  a  dollar  from  him  for  any  object  on  earth.' 
Touching  his  wife,  he  said,  '  Frank,  that  is  so ;  the  doctor 
never  has  ; '  and  gave  a  look  at  his  wife  as  much  as  to  say  that 
he  wished  by  that  observation  to  raise  me  in  her  estimation. 
The  look  evidently  said  that  it  had  raised  me  in  his.  And  I 
added:  'And,  Mrs.  Vanderbilt,  so  long  as  there  is  breath  in 
his  body  I  never  shall.'  Evidently  he  did  not  quite  under- 
stand my  remark,  and  changed  his  expression  into  one  of  those 
steely  looks  of  his  which  were  very  piercing  and  very  subdu- 
ing ;  but  I  never  faltered— turning  the  whole  thing  off  in  a 
jocose  manner  by  saying:  'For,  if  he  has  lived  to  attain  his 
present  age  and  has  not  got  the  sense  to  see  what  I  need  and 
the  grace  to  send  it  to  me,  he  will  die  without  the  sight! '  We 
all  smiled  at  that  and  the  conversation  changed. 

"  "'  On  a  subsequent  visit  I  met  Daniel  Drew  at  the  house. 
It  was  shortly  after  one  of  the  great  financial  battles  between 
Commodore  Vanderbilt  and  Mr.  Drew.  The  lion  and  the  tiger 
were  lying  down  a  little  while  together.    Mr.  Drew  had  re- 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


209 


peatedly  attended  the  services  I  was  holding  in  the  university 
chapel,  and  had  echoed  Mrs.  Vanderbilt's  earnest  praises  of 
the  usefulness  of  our  little  congregation.  The  commodore 
catechized  me  closely  as  to  my  views  of  Christian  work,  and 
I  answered  him  to  the  best  of  my  ability  and  with  frankness. 
About  that  time  the  Mercer  Street  Presbyterian  Church  had 
negotiated  for  lots  up-town  belonging  to  Columbia  College, 
and  had  put  their  own  edifice  upon  the  market.  Its  pastor, 
Dr.  Booth,  had  always  seemed  friendly  to  me.  My  friend, 
James  Lorimer  Graham,  Esq.,  conversed  with  me  about  pur- 
chasing it,  and  I  had  authorized  him  to  offer  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  Somehow  this  had  got  to  the  commodore's  ears,  but 
I  did  not  know  it  and  did  not  intend  to  ask  him  for  a  cent. 
My  impressions  of  his  character  at  that  time  were,  at  least,  not 
favorable.  I  regarded  him  as  an  unscrupulous  gatherer  of 
money,  a  man  who  aimed  at  accumulating  an  immense  for- 
tune and  had  no  very  pious  concern  as  to  the  means.  The 
few  interviews  I  had  had  with  him  after  his  marriage  had 
modified  my  opinions  of  the  man.  I  discovered  fine  points 
of  which  I  had  had  no  suspicion.  But  still  I  was  a  little  afraid 
of  him. 

"  '  "  On  this  particular  Monday  evening  of  which  I  speak 
he  walked  to  the  sitting-room  door  with  me,  as  his  wont  was, 
and  as  I  passed  out  he  said,  '  Doctor,  come  and  see  me  to- 
morrow night.' 

"  ""  I  can't,  commodore.' 

"  Why  can't  you?  '  said  he,  in  the  tone  of  a  man  not  ac- 
customed to  be  refused. 

"  '  "  '  Because,'  said  I,  '  there  are  a  couple  of  boys  from  the 
South  here  who  have  come  to  be  clerks,  and  they  have  no 
friends,  and  I  have  asked  them  to  my  boarding-house  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  my  family,  hoping  by  this  social  tie  to 
bind  them  to  a  virtuous  course  of  living.' 

"  ""  Well,  then,'  said  he,  '  come  around  the  next  night,' 


210 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  ""  I  can't,  commodore,'  was  my  reply. 
"  ""  Why  can't  you?  ' 

"  ""  Because  every  Wednesday  night  I  have  a  little  prayer- 
meeting  in  the  Bible  House,  never  more  than  thirteen  or 
fourteen,  but  almost  invariably  four  or  five,  being  present,  and 
I  can't  disappoint  them.' 

"  '  "  '  Well,'  said  he,  '  come  around  Thursday  night.' 

"  '  "  '  I  can't,  commodore.' 

"  "' '  Why?  '  he  asked,  with  a  good-natured  growl. 

"  ""  Because,'  said  I,  '  I  have  engaged  to  marry  a  couple 
of  very  poor  people  on  the  West  Side  of  the  town,  and  it  would 
never  do  to  disappoint  them.  You  know  how  that  is  yourself ' 
—alluding  to  the  fact  of  his  recent  marriage,  and  of  his  not 
being  able  to  find  me  to  perform  his  marriage  ceremony. 

" '  " '  Well,'  said  he,  pleasantly,  '  doctor,  come  when  you  can.' 

"  '  "  Having  pondered  over  the  impressiveness  and  repeti- 
tion of  his  invitations,  I  concluded  I  would  go  on  the  follow- 
ing Saturday  evening  to  make  a  call  in  acknowledgment  of 
his  hospitality.  It  was  about  eight  o'clock.  There  were 
visitors.  I  sat  about  half  an  hour  conversing  with  the  circle, 
when  I  arose  to  go,  telling  the  commodore  that  on  Saturday 
evening  ministers  of  the  gospel  ought  to  be  quiet  in  their 
studies  preparing  themselves  for  the  pulpit,  and  that  I  had 
simply  called  around  to  thank  him  for  his  kind  invitations  on 
the  preceding  Monday.  He  invited  me  into  a  little  office  ad- 
joining his  bedroom,  and  sat  down  upon  one  side  of  the  table 
and  pointed  me  to  a  seat  on  the  other.  He  said,  '  Doctor, 
what  is  this  about  that  Mercer  Street  property? ' 

"  ""  Well,'  said  I,  '  commodore,  only  this  :  it  is  in  the  mar- 
ket ;  they  want  sixty-five  thousand  dollars  for  it,  and  I  ventured 
to  offer  them  fifty  thousand.  It  is  on  leased  ground,  and  I 
think  it  is  about  worth  that.' 

"  ""  Well,'  said  he,  '  how  much  have  you  got  toward  your 
fifty  thousand  dollars?  ' 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


211 


'""I  felt  in  my  pocket  and  playfully  said,  ' Well,  sir,  as 
near  as  I  can  judge,  about  seventy-five  or  eighty  cents.' 

"  '  "  '  How  do  you  expect  to  pay  for  it,  then?  ' 

"  ""  Well,  commodore,  this  is  my  thought  about  it.  I  have 
been  here  preaching  some  little  time.  My  work  seems  to 
prosper.  I  shall  propose  to  the  Mercer  Street  Presbyterian 
Church  to  let  me  have  their  building  for  six  months.  I  shall 
preach  in  it  those  six  months.  I  shall  announce  to  the  people 
of  New  York  that  I  wish  to  establish,  on  an  unsectarian  basis, 
a  free  church  for  all  comers,  especially  for  strangers  in  the  city 
— a  church  that  shall  be  evangehcal  and  undenominational ; 
and  I  shall  appeal  for  the  money  in  large  sums  and  small. 
Now,  commodore,  if  God  wants  me  to  stay  in  New  York  and 
do  this  work  to  which  my  heart  seems  to  be  inclined,  the 
money  will  come.  If  not,  the  Mercer  Street  brethren  have 
only  lost  the  use  of  their  property  six  months,  and  it  will  have 
been  employed  in  Christian  work.  But  I  believe  the  money 
will  come  and  th?  church  go  on.' 

"  ' "  He  looked  me  straight  in  the  eye  and  said,  '  Doctor, 
I'll  give  you  the  church! ' 

"  '  "  I  was  mad  in  a  minute.  I  had  not  been  made  so  angry 
since  I  reached  New  York.  I  thought  that  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  desired  to  obtain  that  property  for  some  railroad 
or  other  business  purpose,  or  for  his  estate— that  he  had  some 
deep  design,  and  chose  to  put  me  forward,  supposing  that  I 
was  a  greenhorn  of  a  parson  from  the  pine  forests  of  North 
Carolina,  and  he  could  use  me.  I  fired  up,  and  leaning  upon 
the  table  looked  him  straight  in  the  eye  and  said,  '  Commo- 
dore Vanderbilt,  you  don't  know  me!  There  is  not  any  man 
in  America  rich  enough  to  have  me  for  a  chaplain.'  I  shall 
never  forget  the  look  he  returned.  He  had  been  accustomed 
to  be  solicited.  Here  he  was,  making  the  largest  offer  of 
charity  he  ever  had  made,  and  found  a  man  refusing  to  ac- 
cept fifty  thousand  dollars!     It  was  an  amazed  and  quizzical 


212 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


look ;  it  was  the  look  of  a  man  who  had  a  new  sensation  and 
could  not  tell  whether  he  was  enjoying  it  or  not.  As  soon  as 
he  could  frame  a  reply  he  said,  '  Doctor,  I  don't  know  what 
you  mean.  Me  have  a  chaplain !  The  Lord  knows  I've  got 
as  Httle  use  for  a  chaplain  as  any  other  man  you  ever  saw.  I 
want  to  give  you  this  church,  and  give  it  to  you  only.  Now 
will  you  take  it?  ' 

"  '  "  I  paused  a  moment,  and  felt  that  perhaps  I  had  made 
a  mistake  in  the  man,  and  then  said,  '  Commodore,  I  should 
not  like  to  be  under  so  great  a  pecuniary  obligation  to  any 
gentleman  that,  when  I  had  the  guns  of  the  gospel  directed 
against  the  breastworks  of  any  particular  sin,  and  should  see 
his  head  rising  above  them,  I  should  be  tempted  to  suspend 
my  fire  or  change  the  range  of  my  shot.' 

"  "' '  Doctor,'  said  he,  '  I  would  not  give  you  a  cent  if  I 
did  not  believe  that  you  were  so  independent  a  man  that  you 
would  preach  the  gospel  as  honestly  to  one  man  as  to  another. 
Now  I  believe  that  and  I  want  to  give  you  the  chiu-ch.' 

"  '  "  After  the  discharge  of  the  lightning  of  my  anger,  I  felt 
that  a  sort  of  April  shower  was  coming.  My  eyes  were 
moistening.  It  seemed  to  me  a  wonderful  providence ;  and 
you  know  we  always  think  it  is  a  wonderful  providence  if  it 
runs  with  our  ideas.  I  extended  my  hand  and  said,  '  Com- 
modore, if  you  give  me  that  church  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
I'll  most  thankfully  accept  it.' 

"  ""  No,'  said  he,  '  doctor,  I  would  not  give  it  to  you  that 
way,  because  that  would  be  professing  to  you  a  religious  sen- 
timent I  do  not  feel.  I  want  to  give  you  a  church ;  that's  all 
there  is.  It  is  one  friend  doing  something  for  another  friend. 
Now,  if  you  take  it  that  way  I'll  give  it  to  you.' 

"  '  "  We  both  rose  at  the  same  moment,  and  I  took  his  hand 
and  I  said,  '  Commodore,  in  whatever  spirit  you  give  it,  I  am 
deeply  obliged,  but  I  shall  receive  it  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.' 


SETT  LI XG  IN  NEW  YORK' 


213 


"  ""  Oh,  well,'  said  he,  '  let  us  go  into  the  sitting-room  and 
see  the  women.' 

" ' "  It  so  happened  that  the  Mercer  Street  brethren  were 
disappointed  in  their  movement,  and  I  felt  in  honor  compelled 
to  withdraw  any  claim  I  might  have  on  what  had  occurred 
before,  and  for  a  considerable  time  after  they  occupied  their 
church.  After  that  long  and  tiresome  suspense,  again  the 
church  was  offered  me.  I  did  not  know  that  the  commodore 
had  not  changed  his  mind.  I  had  not  talked  with  him  on  the 
subject  since  I  announced  that  I  was  compelled  to  give  up  the 
church.  But  when  the  time  came  I  walked  in  and  said, 
'  Commodore,  this  church  is  again  in  the  market,  and  I  can 
get  it  if  I  renew  my  proposition  to  them.' 

" ' "  Said  he,  '  Offer  them  the  fifty  thousand  dollars  cash. 
The  property  is  worth  it  and  always  will  be  worth  it,  even  with 
the  ground-rent.    Fix  the  day  for  the  transfer.' 

" ' "  Through  my  friend,  the  late  General  James  Lorimer 
Graham,  this  was  done.  The  commodore  went  to  Saratoga. 
I  communicated  to  him  the  day  when  the  papers  were  to  be 
made.  He  directed  me  to  call  at  his  office,  which  I  did,  and 
when  I  entered,  his  clerk,  Mr.  Wardell,  said,  '  Doctor,  here  is 
a  package  containing  fifty  thousand  dollars  of  money  from 
Commodore  Vanderbilt  for  you.' 

"  '  "  I  said  to  him,  '  Do  you  know  what  this  fifty  thousand 
dollars  is  for?  '  '  No,  sir,  I  don't.'  '  Didn't  the  commodore 
tell  you?'  'No,  sir.'  'Shall  I  give  you  a  receipt?'  'No, 
sir.'  'Why  don't  you  take  a  receipt?'  'The  commodore 
didn't  tell  me  to  take  one.' 

"  ' "  And  that  is  the  way  I  got  the  Church  of  the  Strangers. 
I  desired  to  have  it  put  in  charge  of  a  body  of  trustees  of 
prominent  gentlemen  selected  from  the  principal  churches  in 
New  York ;  but  the  commodore  refused  to  do  so,  saying, 
'  No ;  you  hammer  away  at  some  of  those  fellows  about 
their  sins,  and  they  will  turn  around  and  bedevil  you  so  that 


214 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


you  will  have  to  quit  the  church.  I  am  going  to  give  it  to 
you  personally.' 

"  '  "  He  subsequently  made  the  deeds  of  settlement  so  that 
the  pastor  should  have  a  life-estate  in  the  property,  and  that 
at  his  death  it  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers  appointed  according  to  law.  And 
thus  we  got  the  church. 

"  '  "  He  lived  seven  years  after  that,  and  never  by  deed  or 
word  or  look  did  he  make  me  feel  that  he  felt  that  I  was  under 
obligation  to  him.  On  the  contrary,  from  that  day  forth  he 
always  treated  me  as  one  gentleman  treats  another  who  has 
done  him  a  very  great  favor.  It  was  done  in  a  princely  style, 
and  I  do  believe  God  paid  him  and  his  family  a  thousandfold 
in  many  ways."  ' 

"  The  events  just  narrated  took  place  during  the  summer  of 
1870.  The  pastor  at  once  set  to  work  making  the  necessary 
repairs.  As  for  several  years  the  congregation  which  had  been 
occupying  the  building  had  been  expecting  to  make  some  ar- 
rangement for  removal,  the  property  was  neglected  and  very 
much  had  to  be  done.  Ten  thousand  dollars  should  have 
been  expended  upon  it,  but  the  pastor  ventured  only  half  that 
amount  and  supervised  all  the  repairs.  He  had  so  Httle 
trained  his  people  to  work,  having  had  nothing  for  them  to 
work  upon,  that  he  was  compelled  to  do  nearly  the  whole  of 
this  alone  while  continuing  his  ministration  in  the  httle  chapel. 
Not  an  officer  of  the  church  visited  the  premises  during  the 
repairs.  When  all  was  done  he  went  to  his  friend,  Commo- 
dore Vanderbilt,  and  told  him  that  the  repairs  were  all  finished 
and  that  service  would  be  held  on  the  first  Sunday  of  the  next 
month,  October,  and  that  it  had  cost  five  thousand  dollars  to 
make  the  repairs.  The  commodore  said,  '  Well,  doctor,  how 
are  you  going  to  pay  for  it?  '  The  reply  was,  '  I  do  not  know, 
sir;'  for  the  doctor  thought  probably  the  commodore  would 
assume  the  debt.   Instead  of  doing  so  he  said,  '  Neither  do  I.' 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


215 


It  afterward  transpired  that  the  commodore  did  this  to  try  the 
pastor's  'pluck'  and  further  to  satisfy  himself  that  his  confi- 
dence in  the  doctor's  abihty  was  not  misplaced.  The  pastor 
arose,  saying,  '  But  I  will  pay  it,  commodore,'  and  left.  He 
went  immediately  down  into  Wall  Street,  and  through  a  friend, 
Mr.  Charles  W.  Keep,  borrowed  the  money  on  his  own  per- 
sonal credit,  and  paid  for  all  the  material  used  and  all  the 
work  done  in  repairing  the  building.  This  load  he  bore  for 
some  time  before  he  could  obtain  enough,  above  what  was 
necessary  annually  for  the  running  of  the  church,  to  liquidate 
the  debt,  but  it  was  finally  accomplished. 

"  On  Sunday,  the  28th  of  August,  the  Sunday-school  had 
taken  possession  of  its  department  in  the  chapel,  under  the 
superintendency  of  Mr.  William  J.  Woodward.  The  building 
which  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  was  now  to  occupy  is  of 
historical  interest.  When  that  portion  of  the  city  was  almost 
in  the  country,  and  a  number  of  members  of  the  old  Brick 
Church,*  which  was  then  under  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Gardiner 
Spring,  separated  themselves  in  order  to  build  a  new  up-town 
church,  they  selected  this  spot.  To  that  congregation  and  to 
the  old  St.  Mark's  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Bowery  almost  all 
the  principal  families  of  the  city  belonged.  To  the  new  Pres- 
byterian church  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  as  we  have 
seen,  was  called  as  its  first  pastor. 

"The  great  revival  services  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kirk  in 
1839-40  had  taken  place  within  those  walls.  In  what  is  now 
the  pastor's  study,  in  the  chapel  facing  on  Greene  Street,  were 
heard  the  first  classes  of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
which  now  has  a  noble  residence  at  No.  1200  Park  Avenue. 
All  the  commencements  of  the  theological  seminary  were  held 
here  until  1871.  In  what  is  now  the  parlor  of  the  church 
there  was  a  Sunday-school,  in  which  men  and  women  who 

*  This  church  occupied  the  block  now  covered  by  the  Potter  and  Times 
buildings. 


216 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


have  since  distinguished  themselves  in  church  work,  in  litera- 
ture, and  in  the  department  of  teaching  received  their  train- 
ing. 

"  We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  R.  R.  McBurney,  secretary  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in  this  city,  for  the 
following  facts : 

"  '  On  the  evening  of  May  28,  1852,  a  meeting  was  held  in 
the  lecture-room  of  what  is  now  the  Church  of  the  Strangers, 
which  had  been  called  by  a  few  young  men,  members  of 
evangelical  churches  in  this  city,  who  had  previously  on  sev- 
eral occasions  met  together  to  consider  the  propriety  of  form- 
ing a  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  About  three  hun- 
dred young  men  assembled  at  that  time,  who  manifested  a 
deep  interest  in  the  subject ;  and  it  became  evident  that  such 
an  association  might  be  formed  with  every  prospect  of  useful- 
ness. 

"  '  The  chair  was  occupied  by  the  Rev.  G.  T.  Bedell,  D.D., 
then  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  Tenth  Street  and 
Fifth  Avenue,  now  Protestant  Episcopal  Bishop  of  Ohio,  who 
expressed  a  fervent  interest  in  the  cause. 

"  '  The  Rev.  C.  J.  Warren  also  took  part  in  the  exercises, 
and  an  admirable  address  was  delivered  by  the  late  Rev.  Isaac 
Ferris,  D.D.,  then  pastor  of  the  Market  Street  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  which  embodied  a  lucid  exhibition  of  the  na- 
ture and  the  probable  benefits  of  the  proposed  organization. 

"  '  After  the  address,  the  names  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  young  men  were  enrolled  as  members,  J.  W.  Benedict, 
Esq.,  acting  as  chairman. 

" '  At  several  successive  meetings,  held  in  the  same  place, 
the  proposed  constitution  was  brought  forward,  and  after  being 
fully  discussed  was  finally  adopted  in  nearly  its  present  shape. 

"  '  On  the  evening  of  the  30th  of  June,  1852,  the  associa- 
tion was  permanently  organized  by  the  election  of  its  officers. 

"  '  From  the  pulpit  of  the  church  was  delivered  the  first  an- 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


217 


nual  sermon  before  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association, 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ferris,  who  was  afterward  chancellor  of  the 
University  of  the  City  of  New  York.' 

"the  opening 

"  On  Sunday,  October  2,  1870,  the  Church  of  the  Strangers 
was  duly  opened.  The  following  account  of  the  opening  ex- 
ercises is  taken  from  the  three  programs  issued  during  the  days 
of  their  continuance : 

"Sunday,  October  2,  1870 

"Morning,  10:30  o'clock.  Singing  the  long-meter  dox- 
ology,  '  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,'  etc.  The 
first  morning  lesson.  The  hymn,  '  I  love  thy  kingdom,  Lord,' 
No.  33  of  '  Hymns  for  all  Christians.'  The  creed.  Prayer, 
by  Joseph  Holdich,  D.D.,  American  Bible  Society.  The  sec- 
ond morning  lesson. 

"  HYMN  WRITTEN  FOR  THE  OCCASION  BY  PHCEBE  CARY 

"  '  Come  down,  O  Lord,  and  with  us  live! 
For  here,  with  tender,  earnest  call, 
The  gospel  thou  didst  freely  give 
We  freely  offer  unto  all. 

"  '  Come  with  such  power  and  saving  grace 
That  we  shall  cry,  with  one  accord, 
"  How  sweet  and  awful  is  this  place. 
This  sacred  temple  of  the  Lord ! " 

"  '  Let  friend  and  stranger,  one  in  thee. 

Feel  with  such  power  thy  Spirit  move 
That  every  man's  own  speech  shall  be 
The  sweet  eternal  speech  of  love. 

"  '  Yea,  fill  us  with  the  Holy  Ghost ; 

Let  burning  hearts  and  tongues  be  given ; 
Make  this  a  day  of  Pentecost, 

A  foretaste  of  the  bliss  of  heaven!' 


218 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  Sermon,  by  Robert  S.  Moran,  D.D.,  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South.  Address,  by  Abel  Stevens,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

"  At  the  conclusion  of  the  morning  service  the  pastor  in  his 
address,  among  other  things,  returned  thanks  for  the  many  at- 
tentions the  church  had  received  from  its  friends,  and  alluded 
to  the  motto  in  the  flowers  on  the  communion-table,  '  All  for 
Jesus,'  and  said  that  should  now  be  the  motto  of  the  Church 
of  the  Strangers. 

"Afternoon,  2:30  o'clock.  Baptism  of  infants.  3:00 
o'clock.  The  holy  communion,  conducted  by  the  pastor, 
assisted  by  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  LL.D.,  George  L.  Prentiss, 
D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  Robert  R.  Booth, 
D.D.,  pastor  of  the  University  Place  Presbyterian  Church 
(these  three  gentlemen  having  been  pastors  of  the  Mercer 
Street  Church) ;  Gardiner  Spring,  LL.D. ;  William  B.  Sprague, 
D.D. ;  John  P.  Durbin  (one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  Metho- 
dist Missionary  Society) ;  A.  C.  Wedekind,  D.D.,  pastor  of  St. 
James's  (Lutheran) ;  Rev.  R.  Koenig,  of  Pest,  Hungary;  and 
other  clergymen. 

"Evening,  7:30  o'clock.  Prayer,  by  Philip  Schaff^,  D.D., 
professor  in  Union  Theological  Seminary.  Sermon,  by  John 
Cotton  Smith,  D.D.,  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension 
(Protestant  Episcopal).  Address,  by  Mancius  C.  Hutton,  D.D., 
pastor  of  the  Washington  Square  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church. 

"  At  the  conclusion  of  the  evening  service  Dr.  Deems  read 
the  following  stanzas,  which  had  been  sent  him  during  the  day : 

"  ■'  ALL  FOR  JESUS  ' 

"  '  Written  for  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  by  Mrs.  M.  A.  Kidder 

'•' '  This  holy,  peaceful  Sabbath  day 
We  bow  our  inmost  hearts  and  pray 
To  thee,  O  Jesus! 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


219 


And  while  we  give  afresh  to  thee 
This  Christian  church,  so  broad,  so  free, 
Our  voices  and  our  hearts  agree, 
'Tis  all  for  Jesus! 

"  '  This  structure  with  its  rocky  bands. 
This  holy  temple  as  it  stands, 

Was  built  for  Jesus! 
The  very  floor  beneath  our  feet. 
The  walls  that  catch  the  echoes  sweet, 
This  pulpit,  aye,  and  every  seat, 

Belong  to  Jesus! 

"  '  The  strangers'  church!  the  world's  wide  home 
Where  all,  yea  all,  may  freely  come 

And  learn  of  Jesus! 
The  rich,  the  poor,  the  grave  and  gay, 
The  lonely  wanderers  by  the  way, 
May  hear  God's  Word  and  sing  and  pray 
To  blessed  Jesus! 

"  '  O  generous  heart,  that  gave  so  much! 
O  open  hands,  whose  gentle  touch 

Was  seen  by  Jesus! 
O  sisters  kind  and  brothers  true, 
O  loving  friends  in  every  pew, 
Whate'er  we've  done,  whate'er  we  do, 

Is  all  for  Jesus!' 

"  Monday  Evening,  October  3// 

"7  :3o  o'clock.  Public  meeting.  Rev.  Chancellor  Ferris 
presided.  Vice-presidents:  Gorham  D.  Abbott,  LL.D.,  Wil- 
liam H.  Alexander,  Albert  T.  Bledsoe,  LL.D.,  Nathan  Bishop, 
LL.D.,  A.  T.  Briggs,  Theophilus  P.  Brouwer,  William  C. 
Churchill,  A.M.,  George  W.  Clarke,  Ph.D.,  Charles  C.  Colgate, 
Peter  Cooper,  Lyman  Denison,  Cornelius  R.  Disosway,  Hon. 
William  E.  Dodge,  Thomas  C.  Doremus,  Daniel  Drew,  John 
Elliott,  Hon.  William  M.  Evarts,  Richard  C.  Gardner,  James 
Lorimer  Graham,  Hon.  William  F.  Havemeyer,  Thomas  A. 


220 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Hoyt,  Edward  S.  Jaffray,  Morris  K.  Jesup,  John  H.  Keyser, 
Dr.  Jared  Linsly,  R.  R.  McBurney,  Belden  Noble,  Ex-Gover- 
nor Olden  of  New  Jersey,  John  W.  Quincy,  John  A.  Stew- 
art, Algernon  S.  Sullivan,  Ex-Governor  Throop  of  New  York, 
John  F.  Trow,  John  EUiott  Ward,  Horace  Webster,  LL.D., 
A.  R.  Wetmore,  Stewart  L.  Woodford. 

"  Prayer,  by  George  R.  Crooks,  D.D.,  editor  of  the  '  Meth- 
odist.' 

"The  meeting  was  a  profoundly  interesting  one.  Dr. 
Deems  gave  a  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Church 
of  the  Strangers,  and  of  the  work  proposed  to  be  accomplished. 
He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Koenig,  pastor  of  a  similar 
church  in  Pest,  Hungary ;  and  by  the  Hon.  William  E.  Dodge 
in  a  most  happy  address  of  indorsement  and  congratulation ; 
and  by  Dr.  S.  Irenaeus  Prime,  of  the  New  York  '  Observer,' 
in  a  most  touching  and  beautiful  speech. 

"  Tuesday,  October  ^th 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  Armitage,  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Baptist 
Church,  preached  a  most  impressive  sermon. 

"  Friday  Evening,  October  "jth 

"7:30  o'clock.  Public  temperance  meeting,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Fidelity  Temple  of  Honor.  The  Grand 
Worthy  Chief  Templar,  Calvin  E.  Keach,  of  Rensselaer 
County,  presided.  Prayer  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  Merritt,  Jr., 
chaplain  of  Fidelity  Temple.  Addresses  by  Templar  William 
S.  Stevenson,  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Deems,  D.D.,  and  Hon.  B.  E. 
Hale,  of  Kings  County.  Sacred  and  temperance  songs  by  a 
young  lady. 

"  Sunday,  October  <)th 

"  Morning,  10 :2o  o'clock.  Prayer,  by  Thomas  C.  De  Witt, 
D.D.,  Collegiate  Reformed  Chiu-ch.    Sermon,  by  William  E. 


SETTLING  IN  NEW  YORK 


221 


Munsey,  D.D.,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  Address, 
by  the  Rev.  George  J.  Mingins,  superintendent  of  city  mis- 
sions. 

"Afternoon,  2:30  o'clock.  Baptism  of  adults.  3:00 
o'clock.  Sunday-school  concert,  conducted  by  Philip  Phillips. 
The  address  by  William  H.  C.  Price,  Esq.,  former  superinten- 
dent of  the  school. 

"Evening,  7:30  o'clock.  Sermon,  by  Leonard  Bacon, 
D.D.,  Congregational.    Address,  by  the  pastor." 


CHAPTER  VIII 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS,  1870 

THE  Church  of  the  Strangers,  now  thoroughly  rooted,  and 
with  "  All  for  Jesus  "  for  its  motto,  promptly  won  not  only 
a  local,  but  also  a  national,  even  an  international,  reputation. 
It  was  the  supreme  achievement  of  Dr.  Deems's  life,  and  is 
worthy  the  thoughtful  study  of  a  1  who  are  interested  in  the 
church  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  society. 

As  already  stated,  the  Apostles'  Creed  is  the  symbol  of  the 
faith  of  the  church.  The  Advisory  Council,  made  up  of 
seven  men,  has  charge  of  all  spiritual  interests ;  the  receiving, 
dismissing,  and  disciplining  of  members,  and  other  spiritual 
matters,  being  in  their  hands.  They  are  elected  annually  at 
the  December  monthly  meeting,  being  nominated  at  that 
meeting  by  the  pastor.  The  members  of  this  council  and  the 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  are  nominated  by  the 
pastor,  because  they  are  his  assistants  in  his  spiritual  work. 
Should  the  monthly  meeting  fail  to  elect  a  nominee  for  mem- 
bership in  the  Advisory  Council,  the  pastor  makes  another 
nomination.  All  other  church  officers  are  nominated  by  the 
members  of  the  congregation.  The  secular  and  general  inter- 
ests of  the  church  are  controlled  by  a  monthly  meeting  of  the 
church,  which  elects  annually  in  December  a  president,  vice- 
president,  and  clerk  of  the  monthly  meeting.  Nine  trustees 
have  charge  of  the  finances,  three  being  elected  annually. 
222 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS 


223 


The  trustees  conduct  their  business  through  a  committee  of 
their  members :  the  president,  the  treasurer,  and  the  financial 
secretary,  together  with  two  other  trustees.  This  committee 
is  called  the  Board  of  Finance. 

From  the  inception  of  this  unique  church  no  pew  has  ever 
been  rented.  All  pews  and  sittings  are  always  free  for  all 
worshipers.  Funds  have  been  raised  by  the  envelope  system 
of  weekly  subscriptions,  and  by  the  plate  collections,  which 
have  ever  been  very  generous.  The  finances  of  the  Church 
of  the  Strangers  are  managed  with  the  most  businesslike  sys- 
tem, accuracy,  and  energ}'. 

One  of  the  best  features  of  the  church  is  the  Committee  on 
Hospitality,  a  board  of  ushers,  young  men  carefully  selected 
and  especially  instructed  to  make  every  stranger  feel  perfectly 
at  home. 

The  ritual  of  the  church  in  its  simplicity  departs  from  the 
ordinary  form  of  service  in  the  non-liturgical  churches  chiefly 
in  the  use  of  the  Apostles'  Creed  by  the  congregation  after 
the  first  hymn  of  the  morning  service.  A  volunteer  chorus 
choir,  trained  and  led  by  Professor  George  W.  Pettit,  leads 
the  congregational  singing,  which  is  unusually  fine,  the  hymn- 
book  used  being  "  Hymns  for  all  Christians,"  prepared  by 
Phoebe  Cary  and  Dr.  Deems.  The  prayers  of  Dr.  Deems  in 
his  pulpit  will  never  be  forgotten.  They  impressed  the  hearer 
with  the  thought  that  the  pastor  knew  all  the  experiences  of 
every  heart  before  him,  and  was  vividly  impressed  himself  by 
the  presence,  power,  and  love  of  the  Deity  whom  he  devoutly 
addressed  as  the  hearer  and  answerer  of  prayer. 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  administered  on  the 
first  Sunday  of  every  month,  when  new  members  who  have 
been  admitted  to  the  sealing  ordinances  of  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper  are  welcomed  by  the  officers  and  members  of 
the  church.  The  communion  and  baptismal  rituals  are  prac- 
tically the  same  as  those  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 


224 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


the  members  of  the  Advisory  Council  first  partaking  of  the 
elements  while  seated  at  a  long  communion-table,  and  then 
assisting  the  pastor  in  the  distribution  of  the  bread  and  wine 
to  the  people,  who  are  seated  in  alternate  pews.  It  is  a  re- 
markable fact  that  no  communion  season,  excepting  one,  has 
ever  passed  without  at  least  one  new  member  to  be  welcomed. 
Generally  there  have  been  more. 

Infants  are  baptized  on  the  third  and  adults  on  the  fourth 
Sunday  of  the  month.  Under  the  pulpit  platform  is  a  bap- 
tistery which  is  used  for  those  whose  consciences  call  for  bap- 
tism by  immersion,  while  in  front  of  the  pulpit  stands  the  font 
from  which  babes  are  baptized,  and  those  adults  who  do  not 
ask  for  immersion.  Dr.  Deems's  theory  was  that  the  mode  of 
baptism  was  a  matter  for  settlement  by  the  candidate,  his  part 
being  the  apphcation  of  water  in  the  name  of  the  blessed  Trinity. 

Besides  the  regular  Sunday  morning  and  evening  services 
held  in  the  church  proper,  a  stone  building  with  a  square  tower 
in  the  facade,  a  laborious  and  fruitful  Sunday-school  is  held  in 
the  chapel,  a  two-story  brick  building  fronting  on  Greene  Street 
(which  at  its  northern  end  is  called  Winthrop  Place),  the  chapel 
being  No.  4.  Dr.  Deems  made  it  a  rule  to  visit  the  Sunday- 
school  every  Sunday  morning  and  offer  prayer,  also  frequently 
speaking.  This  part  of  the  church,  equipped  as  it  has  ever 
been  with  a  primary,  intermediate,  and  Bible-class  department, 
has  been,  and  is,  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  fruitful  sections 
of  the  life  and  work  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  In  1883 
a  Chinese  Sunday-school  was  organized,  and  is  held  every  Sun- 
day afternoon  at  2  :  30,  a  most  gratifying  evidence  of  the  mis- 
sionary life  of  the  church. 

At  6 :  45  P.M.  every  Sunday,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
young  men  of  the  church,  a  vesper  service  is  held  preparatory 
to  the  regular  evening  service.  It  is  held  in  the  church  par- 
lor, a  large  room  under  the  Sunday-school  room,  on  the  ground 
floor  of  the  chapel  building,  in  which  is  also  held  the  regular 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS  225 


church  prayer-meeting  every  Friday  evening,  a  mothers'  meet- 
ing every  Wednesday  afternoon  following  the  first  Sunday  of 
the  month,  and  a  church  sociable  every  Wednesday  evening 
following  the  first  Sunday  of  the  month. 

The  Friday  evening  church  prayer-meeting  is  in  charge  of 
a  committee,  who  provide  leaders  and  topics,  except  for  the 
Friday  evening  preceding  the  communion,  when  the  pastor 
leads  a  service  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  is  an  in- 
teresting custom  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  to  take  up  a 
collection  at  every  meeting,  of  every  sort,  held  in  the  chapel 
on  Wednesday  evening. 

Three  organizations,  besides  those  already  mentioned,  carry 
on  the  work  of  the  church:  the  Sisters  of  the  Stranger,  the 
Missionary  Society,  and  the  Young  People's  Society  of  Chris- 
tian Endeavor. 

Recognizing  that  in  a  city  of  a  million  and  a  half  people 
there  must  always  be  a  large  number  of  strangers  in  sickness 
or  some  other  distress,  and  recognizing  the  value  of  woman's 
work  in  the  church.  Dr.  Deems,  in  January,  1869,  organized 
the  Sisters  of  the  Stranger,  whose  object  is  to  aid  worthy 
strangers  in  distress  in  New  York  City. 

The  office  of  this  society  is  in  the  northeastern  comer  of  the 
church  parlor,  where  the  secretary  is  to  be  found  at  her  desk 
daily  from  3  to  5  p.m.,  to  receive,  pass  judgment  upon,  and 
respond  to  applications  for  help.  God,  who  so  signally  blessed 
every  work  of  his  sers^ant's  hand,  had  provided  for  the  work 
of  the  secretary  of  the  sisters  an  ideal  woman. 

Gifted  with  an  acute  mind  and  a  wise  and  tender  heart, 
Miss  Cecile  Sturtevant  accepted  the  position  of  secretary  at 
the  founding  of  the  sisterhood,  and  for  five  and  twenty  years 
she  was  at  her  post  of  duty  with  exemplary  regularity,  devotion, 
and  constancy.  She  was  deeply  attached  to  her  pastor,  and 
not  only  with  her  pen  helped  him  in  his  large  correspondence 
and  the  care  of  his  parish  books,  but  also,  by  adding  to  his  her 


226 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


judgment  and  knowledge  of  people  and  of  details  of  church 
life,  assisted  him  in  carrying  successfully  the  heavy  load  of  his 
widely  extended  and  peculiar  parish.  Sister  Cecile  was  to  Dr. 
Deems  as  a  daughter.  She  survived  him  less  than  a  year,  and 
was  buried  from  the  old  church  on  Friday,  August  ii,  1894. 
To  the  few  older  members  then  present  this  seemed  to  be  next 
to  the  last  act  in  the  life-history  of  this  unique,  useful,  and 
beneficent  movement. 

The  Sisters  of  the  Stranger  is  still  alive  and  bearing  fruit, 
Mrs.  Sara  Keables  Hunt  being  secretary,  and  Miss  Rena 
Sturtevant,  a  worthy  sister  of  the  late  Miss  Cecile  Sturtevant, 
being  treasurer. 

Mrs.  S.  M.  Blake  was  the  first  president  of  this  society,  and 
Mrs.  Charles  F.  Deems  has  been  the  only  other  president.  To 
give  an  idea  of  the  fruitfulness  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Stranger 
we  quote  the  following  paragraphs  from  Mr.  Joseph  S.  Taylor's 
"  History  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  "  : 

"  From  the  beginning  of  their  work  and  covering  a  period 
of  seventeen  years,  the  sisters  have  disbursed  $23,446.11. 
They  have  helped  84 1 5  persons,  and  through  them  and  their 
families  many  other  persons.  Of  the  8415  recorded,  431 1 
have  been  Americans  and  4104  foreigners. 

"  Throughout  all  the  years  of  the  sisters'  work  the  Church 
of  the  Strangers  has  intrusted  to  them  the  disbursement  of  the 
communion  offertory  for  the  poor.  The  claims  of  needy 
members  of  the  church  having  first  consideration,  the  balance, 
if  any,  has  been  allowed  to  go  to  the  general  work  of  the  so- 
ciety. Whenever  the  offertory  fell  short  of  what  was  required 
by  church-members,  the  sisters  have  made  up  the  deficiency 
from  their  fund.  The  disposition  made  of  this  money  is  re- 
ported to  the  Advisory  Council." 

The  Dorcas  Committee,  who  meet  every  Thursday  after- 
noon to  cut  and  sew  garments,  are  a  good  right  arm  of  the  sis- 
ters, during  the  first  fifteen  years  of  their  labors  distributing 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS  227 


thirty-eight  hundred  new  garments  and  cast-off  clothing  val- 
ued at  four  thousand  dollars. 

In  the  memories  of  those  who  knew  the  noble  work  of  the 
sisters  will  ever  be  associated  the  name  of  Mrs.  Frank  A. 
Vanderbilt,  the  wife  of  the  first  Cornelius  Vanderbilt.  She 
was  for  years  the  first  directress  of  the  sisters.  When,  on 
May  4,  1885,  her  death  came  in  the  prime  of  a  superb  Chris- 
tian life,  a  writer  in  the  "  Christian  Worker  "  said  of  her : 

"  The  papers  have  announced  the  death  of  this  '  elect  lady.' 
All  over  the  land  she  has  scattered  her  benedictions— to 
public  institutions,  private  charities,  missions,  schools,  orphans, 
widows,  aged  clergymen,  and  people  in  almost  every  kind  of 
straitness  in  mind,  body,  and  estate.  She  was  known  to  the 
whole  Church  of  the  Strangers,  to  whom  she  fulfilled  the 
prophecy,  '  Queens  shall  be  their  nursing  mothers.'  The  Sis- 
ters of  the  Stranger  lose  an  honored  and  beloved  directress. 
Her  last  words  to  her  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deems,  were  uttered 
brokenly  with  failing  breath:  'I  am— going— triumphant 
— but — trusting.'  Let  that  be  the  motto  of  the  bereaved  sis- 
terhood: '  Not  triumphant,  but  trusting.'  " 

The  Missionary  Society  was  organized  in  the  Sunday-school 
early  in  the  history  of  the  church ;  but  when  the  church  grew 
stronger,  in  January,  1878,  the  scope  of  this  society  was  en- 
larged and  it  became  an  honored  and  useful  church  organi- 
zation. The  payment,  in  advance,  of  one  dollar  per  annum 
makes  a  member,  and  the  payment  of  five  dollars  at  one  time 
makes  a  life-member,  while  the  payment  of  twenty-five  dollars 
constitutes  the  donor  a  patron.  The  pastor  is  the  president, 
the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  is  the  vice-president, 
and  the  executive  committee  is  made  up  of  six  women  and  six 
men,  who  select  a  secretary  and  treasurer  from  their  own  num- 
ber. The  Chinese  Sunday-school,  the  Gospel  Mission,  and  the 
Young  People's  Society  are  represented  on  the  executive  com- 
mittee. 


228 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


A  quarterly  missionary  prayer-meeting  was  inaugurated  in 

1884,  and  this  Missionary  Society  has  made  itself  felt  all  over 
the  world,  in  both  home  and  foreign  mission  fields  of  various 
denominations.  In  addition  to  regular  contributions  to  Miss 
Whately's  English  school  at  Cairo,  Egypt,  to  the  Anglo-Chi- 
nese University  at  Shanghai,  China,  and  to  Bishop  Gobat's 
Memorial  School  on  Mount  Zion,  Jerusalem,  the  Missionary 
Society  have  rendered  substantial  aid  to  the  Syrian  Protestant 
College,  Beirut,  Syria ;  Bethany  Institute,  for  training  women 
to  become  missionaries ;  the  McAlI  Mission,  in  France ;  the 
Seamen's  Friend  Society  (eight  libraries  for  United  States  Life- 
saving  Service),  the  New  York  Medical  Mission,  the  Tombs 
Mission,  the  Hebrew  Christian  Church,  the  East  Side  Chapel, 
and  many  other  home  and  foreign  fields.  No  pastor  ever  real- 
ized more  keenly  than  Dr.  Deems  that  a  church  without  the 
spirit  of  missions  is  a  church  without  Christ,  a  spiritually  selfish 
and  dead  thing. 

One  of  the  fruits  of  the  spirit  of  missions  in  the  Church  of 
the  Strangers  is  the  Gospel  Mission,  at  the  corner  of  South 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Bleecker  Street.  This  work  was  commenced 
at  the  corner  of  Wooster  and  Bleecker  streets  on  June  18, 

1885,  having  originated  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  Mr.  Edgar 
W.  Russell,  then  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers, 
now  a  pastor  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  planting  and 
rooting  this  noble  work  in  a  part  of  the  city  whose  most  strik- 
ing features  are  poverty,  filth,  and  vice,  Mr.  Russell  had  the 
hearty  cooperation  of  his  pastor  and  the  substantial  aid  of  the 
Missionary  Society. 

Youthful  and  buoyant  in  spirits  to  the  end  of  his  life,  it  al- 
most goes  without  saying  that  Dr.  Deems  from  the  beginning 
of  his  work  in  New  York  loved  and  was  loved  by  his  young 
people ;  and  he  kept  them  actively  employed  in  Christian 
work  in  various  ways,  but  the  Young  People's  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor  was  not  organized  until  January,  1886. 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS 


229 


Since  that  time  it  has  been  one  of  the  most  efficient  arms  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers.  It  is  organized  along  the  general 
lines  of  the  model  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor, but  shows  slight  differences  in  minor  matters. 

With  about  six  hundred  resident  members  working  privately 
and  through  the  organizations  just  sketched,  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers  has  been  an  interesting  spiritual  landmark  in  New 
York  City  and  a  great  spiritual  power  during  the  past  quarter 
of  a  century.  Its  eminent  success  has  been  due  to  a  num- 
ber of  contributing  causes :  its  attractive  name,  its  undenom- 
inational character  (there  being  on  its  roll  at  the  time  of  Dr. 
Deems's  death  members  from  sixteen  denominations),  its  large 
numbers,  its  splendid  organization,  and  its  homelike  and  well- 
appointed  buildings. 

But  all  who  have  known  well  the  Church  of  the  Strangers 
attribute  its  splendid  success,  next  to  the  divine  power  work- 
ing through  it,  to  its  gifted  pastor.  Dr.  Deems.  He  was  a 
man  of  pronounced  and  original  personality.  In  the  pulpit 
he  was  wondrously  eloquent  as  an  orator,  in  his  pastoral  work 
he  was  indefatigable,  and  without  apparent  effort  was  equally 
at  home  with  the  pauper  and  the  millionaire,  with  the  scholar 
and  the  unlearned.  Affectionate  with  his  people  in  their 
homes,  he  was  yet  perfectly  free  from  hypocritical  cordiality. 
Naturally  a  leader,  his  executive  qualities  had  received  thor- 
ough training  while  he  was  engaged  in  his  various  educational 
undertakings,  and  were  used  at  their  best  in  organizing  and 
carrying  forward  the  work  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers. 
Above  all,  in  character  he  was  manly,  spiritually  minded, 
earnest,  and  honest. 

But  we  shall  at  this  point  quote  the  testimony  of  others  than 
his  sons,  as  given  in  a  chapter  in  "A  Romance  of  Provi- 
dence "  entitled  "  '  How '  and  '  Why.'  "  In  order  to  help  the 
readers  of  his  "  History  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  "  to 
understand  the  secret  of  its  growth  and  power,  Mr.  Taylor,  in 


230 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


1887,  addressed  to  various  members  of  the  church  the  follow- 
ing formula : 

"  Please  write  out  an  account  of  how  and  why  you  came  to 
join  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  Make  it  as  long  or  as  short 
as  you  please,  and  write  in  a  familiar  style.  No  names  will 
be  pubhshed." 

The  following  are  selections  from  the  replies  received.  One 
gentleman,  a  jeweler,  said  he  liked  the  church:  "(i)  On  ac- 
count of  its  simple  service ;  (2)  because  Dr.  Deems  preached 
Jesus  Christ  without  an  'ism ' ;  (3)  because  I  loved  the  singing 
of  the  orphan  children."  *  A  young  man  testified :  "  I  was 
convinced  [by  Dr.  Deems]  of  my  duty  to  join  some  Christian 
body,  and  in  making  a  selection,  if  one  thing  more  than  another 
influenced  me  outside  of  the  personality  of  the  pastor,  which 
I  think  is  always  one  of  the  first  considerations,  it  was  the  un- 
sectarian  principle  on  which  the  church  is  founded."  The 
father  of  this  young  man  wrote :  "  I  liked  the  preaching." 
Another,  a  widow,  wrote :  "  It  was  the  hojue  feeling  which 
pervaded  our  church.  .  .  .  When  myself  and  daughter  pre- 
sented ourselves  as  candidates  for  admission  to  the  Church  of 
the  Strangers,  and  Dr.  Deems  said  to  me,  '  And  what  led  you 
and  your  daughter  to  come  to  us?'  I  could  truly  say,  'The 
fact,  sir,  that  we  have  found  a  home ! '  "  From  a  trustee : 
"  We  concluded  to  follow  this  crowd.  We  were  led  into  a 
church.  Opening  one  of  the  hymn-books  which  I  found  in 
the  pew,  I  discovered  that  we  were  in  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers.  I  said  at  once,  '  Why,  this  is  the  church  for  us ; 
we  are  strangers.'  I  have  been  a  regular  attendant  of  the 
church  from  that  day  to  this;"  that  is,  for  fifteen  years.  A 
business  man  says :  "  I  first  heard  Dr.  Deems  preach  in  the 

*  For  many  years,  until  its  removal  from  West  Tenth  Street  far  up- 
town, the  Protestant  Half-Orphan  Asylum  worshiped  every  Sunday 
morning  at  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  almost  filling  the  galleries,  and 
singing  during  the  offertory. 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS 


231 


Hedding  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  East  Seventeenth 
Street.  I  was  so  much  pleased  with  him  that  I  determined  to 
attend  whatever  church  he  might  be  called  to  in  this  city," 
An  artist  says:  '  I  came  to  New  York  in  1870.  One  Sunday 
morning  my  attention  was  attracted  by  a  placard  reading  '  The 
Church  of  the  Strangers '  at  the  entrance  to  the  university 
building.  That  appeal  made  me  think.  I  was  a  'stranger,' 
and  I  concluded  this  must  be  my  church.  I  stepped  inside 
and  heard  Dr.  Deems  for  the  first  time.  I  have  not  yet  re- 
covered from  the  powerful  effects  of  that  sermon."  From  a 
publisher :  "  I  knew  all  the  truths  of  the  gospel  by  heart,  and 
the  most  brilhant  sermon  had  no  effect  unless  I  felt  sure  the 
preacher  himself  was  genuinely  in  earnest.  From  what  source 
I  hardly  know,  I  got  the  conviction  that  Dr.  Deems  was  a 
truly  good  and  earnest  man.  I  went  to  hear  him,  and  a  ser- 
mon of  his  on  the  Fifty-first  Psalm,  in  which  he  brought  out 
very  forcibly  David's  desire  for  purity  as  well  as  pardon,  was 
really  the  deciding  point  in  my  hfe.  I  did  not  wait  long  be- 
fore I  joined  the  church.  I  shall  always  feel  for  Dr.  Deems 
the  respect  and  affection  of  a  son." 

A  professional  man  and  an  ex-Romanist,  after  graphically 
describing  his  spiritual  ignorance,  his  heart-hunger,  the  heart- 
lessness  of  the  formality  of  the  church  in  which  he  had  been 
reared,  and  the  spiritually  destructive  effects  of  the  fashion- 
able churches  he  turned  to,  says:  "At  this  time  my  dear 
wife  insisted  on  my  going  to  hear  Dr.  Deems  preach.  I  went, 
and  wth  a  slight  variation  of  Caesar's  phrase  I  was  obliged  to 
say,  '  I  came,  I  saw,  and  was  conquered ! '  I  found  in  Dr. 
Deems  an  earnestness  in  expounding  the  gospel  which  I  had 
never  heard  before,  and  the  more  I  heard  him  the  more  I  re- 
gained my  faith.  The  horizon  of  the  dark  and  turbulent  sea 
on  which  I  was  drifting,  ready  to  give  up  hope,  became  clear 
and  bright.  The  inner  man  underwent  a  metamorphosis.  I 
began  to  feel  that  some  sincerity,  after  all,  remained  in  this 


232 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


world.  I  found  in  the  discourses  all  the  logic  and  rhetoric  I 
wanted,  sufficient  clearness  to  enable  me  to  know  what  the 
Master  wants  me  to  do,  and,  above  all,  an  earnestness  which 
convinced  me  that  the  preacher  was  intent  on  saving  my 
soul." 

Here  let  it  be  noted  how  the  grand  secret  of  his  great 
success  in  his  sacred  calling  lay  in  the  fact  that  his  talents 
were  sanctified ;  that  above,  below,  behind,  and  all  through 
his  learning,  his  gifts  for  oratory,  his  cogent  logic,  his  brilliant 
rhetoric,  and,  in  one  word,  his  intellectuality,  were  his  sincerity, 
his  earnestness,  his  spirituality,  and  his  intentness  on  saving 
souls.  Blessed  indeed  is  that  minister  of  God  who  subordi- 
nates and  consecrates  all  his  powers  to  this  one  end  of  saving 
.souls!  From  a  young  woman:  "By  his  gentle  and  Christian 
conduct  and  conversation  he  so  wrought  upon  me  that  I  re- 
turned the  same  night  to  my  situation  "  (she  was  a  governess, 
friendless  and  a  stranger),  "  and  soon  after  I  began  to  attend 
preaching  services  in  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  One  day 
I  was  in  great  trouble,  having  just  received  word  that  my  sis- 
ter— the  only  support  besides  myself  of  a  poor  old  widowed 
mother  in  distant  Ireland— was  dangerously  ill.  I  went  out 
into  Washington  Square.  As  I  sat  there  I  saw  Dr.  Deems 
passing.  Instinctively  feeling  that  from  him  would  come 
sympathy  and  help,  I  rose  and  met  him,  saying,  '  Doctor,  I 
have  a  sister  who  is  dying;  will  you  pray  for  her? '  His  re- 
ply was,  '  God  bless  you,  my  daughter ;  I  will.  Let  us  pray 
now.*  And  raising  his  hat,  he  then  and  there  breathed  a  silent 
prayer  for  my  sister.  Afterward  I  announced  my  name  and 
explained  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  And  this  is  how  I 
came  to  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  In  answer  to  the  ques- 
tion why  I  joined,  I  can  only  say,  because  '  I  was  a  stranger, 
and  ye  took  me  in.' " 

A  former  member  of  the  Advisory  Council  of  the  church 
says :  "  I  looked  in  the  newspapers,  and  my  weakness  was  ac- 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS 


233 


commodated  by  this  announcement :  '  Church  of  the  Strangers ; 
strangers  welcome ;  all  seats  free.'  Now  I  had  been  a  stranger 
in  New  York  over  ten  years,  and  so  far  as  the  invitation  went, 
that  was  the  church  for  me.  I  went  there  on  the  first  Sunday 
in  January,  1871.  There  was  nothing  there  that  I  could  find 
fault  with!"  (He  had  explained  that  he  was  a  Scotchman.) 
"The  rich  and  the  poor  were  treated  alike.  The  preacher 
had  wit  without  flippancy,  and  boldness  and  originality  with- 
out irreverence.  He  hurt  my  pride  a  little,  but  I  forgave  him  ; 
for  I  knew  it  was  only  a  random  shot  and  he  could  not  pos- 
sibly know  me."  (Not  "a  random  shot,"  my  good  brother; 
he  knew  somebody  like  you  and  was  aiming  at  him.  He  al- 
ways preached  from  his  own  pulpit  at  some  particular  person 
in  his  audience ;  hence  the  one  invariable  directness  of  his 
aim  and  the  penetrative  quality  of  his  messages.  When 
preaching  to  a  strange  audience  he  preached  at  himself. 
Somebody  was  always  hit.  He  wasted  no  ammunition  shoot- 
ing in  the  air  with  both  eyes  shut.)  "  I  was  attracted.  I 
went  every  Sunday."  Six  months  thereafter  this  gentleman 
gave  his  heart  to  God.  His  whole,  candid,  and  self-searching 
confession  was  summed  up  in  his  own  words :  "  I  had  thought 
myself  a  philosopher.  I  saw  that  I  had  wrestled  like  a  fool. 
I  had  boasted : 

'  I  shall  never  follow  blindly  where  my  reason  cannot  go ; 
I  shall  know  by  reason  only  all  that  mortals  need  to  know.' 

Overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  my  unworthiness  and  unfitness, 
I  reluctantly  went  to  see  Dr.  Deems.  I  had  never  spoken  to 
him,  and  by  way  of  introduction  I  sent  him  a  letter  and  after- 
ward called  upon  him.  I  expected  to  have  my  sinful  heart 
cauterized  with  theological  caustic  and  had  braced  myself  up 
for  the  operation ;  but  instead  of  pain  he  gave  me  pleasure, 
instead  of  humiliation  he  gave  me  sympathy— '  the  oil  of  joy 
for  mourning,  the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness.' 


234 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


With  faith  small  as  a  grain  of  mustard-seed  I  was  admitted  to 
the  church  on  the  first  Sunday  in  July,  1871." 

Yes,  he  was  a  gentle  and  skilful  surgeon  for  moral  hurts,  a 
wise  physician  for  spiritual  ailments,  a  true  disciple  of  the 
divine  Healer  of  souls.  Equally  apt  was  he  to  deal  with  the 
forlorn  loneliness  of  a  poor  friendless  girl  or  the  intellectual 
pride  and  stubbornness  of  a  rebellious  and  controversial  dis- 
putant. These  few  brief  extracts,  taken  and  condensed  from 
those  published  in  the  history  of  the  church,  will,  we  trust, 
give  the  reader  some  additional  knowledge  about,  and  some 
deeper  insight  into,  the  personality  of  Dr.  Deems.  They  will 
also  show  how  his  church  grew  up  around  him,  and  how  and 
why,  first  and  last,  more  than  1475  persons  came  to  be  en- 
rolled in  the  church-membership.  But  who  shall  gather  up 
the  records  and  compute  the  untold  good  done  to  those 
unknown  thousands  who  once  or  twice  or  oftener  have  just 
dropped  into  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  to  hear  him  preach 
—those  who  were  just  passing  through  the  great  city  or  were 
making  their  annual  visits  to  purchase  merchandise?  No  one 
will,  for  no  one  can.  But  they  carried  away  with  them  to 
every  part  of  our  great  land  the  spiritual  blessings  which  they 
had  received  through  him.  Death  may  silence  forever  the 
golden  tongue  of  eloquence,— and  such  was  his,— but  the 
echoes  of  this  devout  and  faithful  minister  of  Christ  and  him 
crucified  will  go  on  sounding  in  their  ears  and  keeping  them 
true  to  oiu-  most  holy  faith  and  transforming  their  lives ;  and 
they  will  pass  on  by  word  and  by  deed,  to  the  world  about 
them  and  to  their  children  and  their  children's  children,  that 
blessed  and  imperishable  influence ;  so  that  God  only  knows 
how  many  blessings  he  has  bestowed  through  his  faithful  and 
consecrated  servant,  disciple,  and  messenger.  Verily,  such  a 
life  is  worth  living  and  worthy  of  being  perpetuated  in  mem- 
ory for  an  example  to  us  all  who  knew  him  and  to  those  who 
shall  come  after  us.    Past  all  words  of  thankfulness  do  the 


THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGERS 


235 


writers  of  this  memoir  confess  their  gratitude  to  their  heavenly- 
Father  for  the  gift  of  such  an  earthly  father,  and  the  very 
natural,  if  mistaken,  regret  that  they  are  so  inadequate  to  the 
fulfilment  of  the  attempt  to  fitly  portray  the  character,  the 
work,  and  the  influence  of  the  venerated  father  whose  presence 
is  still  so  vividly  and  constantly  with  them. 


CHAPTER  IX 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY,  1 867-7 1 

HAVING  taken  a  general  survey  of  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers,  we  may  turn  back  and  take  up  the  story  of 
Dr.  Deems's  life  in  its  more  personal  bearings  and  in  its  other 
relations. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  he  rented  the  cozy  little  frame  house. 
No.  221  West  Thirty-fourth  Street,  where  for  one  year  he  and 
his  family,  after  years  of  unrest  and  the  discomforts  of  board- 
ing-house life,  once  more  tasted  the  sweets  of  a  home.  His 
journal  shows  that  ill  health  annoyed  him  frequently  during 
1866  and  1867;  buf  his  indomitable  will  and  the  gratifying 
growth  of  his  church  were  more  than  an  offset  to  these  trials 
of  the  flesh. 

On  Saturday,  September  7th,  the  first  number  of  "  Every 
Month"  appeared,  a  neat  four-paged  periodical,  edited  and 
published  by  Mr.  S.  T.  Taylor,  and  designed  to  be  the  organ 
of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  Each  number  of  the  paper 
furnished  information  about  the  church  and  contained  a  ser- 
mon by  Dr.  Deems,  which  had  been  taken  down  by  a  reporter. 

During  the  closing  months  of  this  year  Dr.  Deems  added 
to  his  labors  and  widened  his  influence  by  visiting  and  doing 
evangelistic  work  every  Monday  afternoon  among  the  pris- 
oners at  the  Tombs,  or  city  prison,  on  Center  Street. 

236 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


237 


Extracts  from  Dr.  Deems's  Tombs  Journal 

"September  i6th.  Last  week  as  I  was  passing  the  Tombs 
the  words  came  so  distinctly  to  my  memory, '  I  was  in  prison, 
and  ye  came  unto  me.'  At  once  my  other  errand  was  post- 
poned, and  I  said,  '  Yes,  Lord ;  the  prisoner  shall  have  frater- 
nal greetings  this  day  from  me  for  that  word  of  thine.'  And 
so  I  entered,  and  after  talking  to  some  men  who  were  behind 
the  grates  I  went  to  the  boys'  prison ;  and  then  I  saw  the  ma- 
tron of  the  female  prison  and  talked  separately  with  some  of 
her  charge. 

"  While  speaking  with  one  of  the  women  in  a  corridor  at  the 
door  of  her  cell  an  inmate  of  another  of  the  cells  recognized 
my  voice  and  came  out  with  much  shamefacedness.  She  had 
been  a  servant  in  the  house  in  which  I  had  boarded,  and  it 
seemed  like  a  godsend  to  her  that  one  who  knew  her  should 
have  come  into  the  prison.  She  made  an  ex-parte  statement 
of  her  case.  She  had  been  committed  for  grand  larceny.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  her  fault  was  not  quite  so  deep  as  that, 
although  she  had  manifestly  done  a  wrong.  It  was  right  to 
promise  that  I  should  do  what  I  could  for  her ;  which  prom- 
ise was  afterward  kept,  as  will  subsequently  appear. 

"This  gave  me  a  somewhat  favorable  introduction  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Tombs,  and  I  promised  to  conduct  divine 
service  for  them  on  Mondays  at  two  o'clock. 

"  In  accordance  with  that  engagement  the  first  service  was 
held  to-day  in  the  little  chapel  of  what  is  called  the  '  female 
prison.'  What  a  sight!  There  were  old  women  and  young 
girls,  whites  and  negroes ;  some  abashed  and  evidently  hiding 
their  faces  through  shame,  others  brazen ;  some  frivolous  and 
careless,  and  others  stony,  hard,  or  sullen  ;  some  neat  and  tidy, 
others  slatternly,  dirty,  and  barefooted.  After  making  a  very 
few  general  remarks  in  as  pleasant  a  way  and  in  as  non-cleri- 


238 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


cal  a  manner  as  was  proper,  but  in  a  tone  which,  as  it  is  now 
recollected,  conveyed  the  idea  that,  while  cant  is  not  plea- 
sant, there  is  to  be  special  acknowledgment  of  God's  presence 
when  we  worship,  I  invited  the  women  to  join  me  in  singing 
a  familiar  hymn.  About  as  large  a  proportion  complied  with 
this  request  as  is  usual  in  our  fashionable  congregations ;  that 
is  to  say,  very  few. 

"  It  was  my  first  address  to  prisoners.  How  it  was  to  be 
done  successfully  was  a  question.  To  assume  that  they  were 
guilty  of  the  charges  made  against  them  would  be  doing  gross 
injustice  to  some,  as  there  are  always  some  who  are  innocent. 
In  any  case,  it  would  seem  to  be  taking  sides  with  the  strong 
against  the  weak,  the  free  against  the  captive,  the  prosperous 
wicked  against  the  unfortunate  wicked.  So  I  endeavored  as 
much  as  in  me  lay  to  think  and  feel  as  the  blessed  Teacher 
must  have  thought  and  felt  in  the  midst  of  sinners. 

"  But  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  this  standard  as  the 
thought  occurred  to  me  that  I  was  a  fellow-sinner  with  these 
women — not  sinning  in  their  ways,  not  breaking  society's  laws, 
but,  alas!  breaking  God's  laws. 

"  And  so  I  fell  into  a  strain  of  talk  much  like  the  following : 

" '  I  have  been  requested  to  render  weekly  service  in  your 
chapel  and  to  assist  others  who  are  laboring  for  the  good  of 
your  souls.  Before  beginning  it  seems  to  me  necessary  that 
we  have  some  understanding.  If  it  is  expected  that  I  am 
to  ride  down-town  every  Monday  from  my  residence  to  the 
Tombs  and  remove  my  gloves  and  patronizingly  proceed  to 
give  bad  women  some  moral  advice  in  a  gentlemanly  manner, 
T  sha'n't  do  it:  Eyes  twinkled,  and  glances  were  exchanged, 
and  some  whispers,  which  were  interpreted  to  mean,  '  Old  fel- 
low, you  would  lose  your  time  if  you  did.'  '  Nor  will  I  hector 
you,  nor  lecture  you,  nor  harangue  you,  nor  talk  to  you  as 
though  you  were  much  worse  than  the  elegant  ladies  who  sit 
in  the  pews  of  my  church  on  Sunday,  or  as  though  I  were 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


239 


better  than  you.  You  shall  not  be  prejudged.  I'll  tell  you 
how  it  is :  all  I  know  against  you  is  that  you  are  in  the  Tombs, 
and  the  most  innocent  person  might  be  here,  whereas,  alas! 
my  own  heart  is  known  to  me,  and  that  humbles  me.  Look 
at  me,  women ;  do  I  look  like  an  honest  man  that  would  not 
deceive  you?'  They  inspected  me  a  moment,  and  two  or 
three  nodded  their  heads  as  though  they  thought  I  was  pass- 
ably honest. 

" '  Well,  here  we  are,  sinful  mortals  together,  not  knowing 
one  another's  names,  met  to  worship  God.  In  worship  we 
pray.  The  best  prayer  the  world  knows  is  that  which  was 
taught  it  by  Jesus.  The  foundation  of  all  religion  is  in  the 
first  two  words,  "  Our  Father."  That  believed,  everything 
else  follows.  Without  that  all  theology,  orthodoxy,  and  wor- 
ship are  nothing.  Before  we  unite  in  repeating  that  prayer, 
let  us  see  what  it  means  and  whether  we  believe  it.  If  you 
repeat  it  without  lying  unto  God— and  I  beseech  you,  do  not 
utter  hes  upon  your  knees — you  believe  three  things,  namely: 

(1)  That  God  is  your  Father — not  your  Creator,  your  Ruler, 
your  Judge  ;  he  is  all  these,  but  in  prayer  you  claim  the  higher, 
tenderer  relationship  of  Father.  Do  you  believe  that?  God 
chose  to  have  us  born  instead  of  made,  that  there  might  be 
fathers  and  mothers  and  children,  that  we  might  understand 
this  relationship.  There  sits  a  woman  holding  her  little  sick 
child  so  closely  and  tenderly.  I  appeal  to  her.  God  is  nearer 
kin  to  her  than  she  to  that  baby.  The  babe  is  flesh  of  her 
flesh,  but  she  is  spirit  of  God's  spirit.  She  is  the  mother  of 
her  infant's  body;  God  is  the  father  and  mother  of  her  soul. 
Drop  all  hard  thoughts  of  God.'  Here  I  stated  some  of  these. 
'  They  are  all  wrong.  "  God  is  my  Father  "  answers  all  the 
riddles  of  my  life.    Do  you  believe  that  God  is  your  Father? 

(2)  If  you  are  going  to  repeat  the  prayer  with  me  and  say 
"our,"  you  must  believe  that  God  is  my  Father.  And  then 
follows  this :  (3)  You  and  I  are  close  kindred ;  you  are  my 


240 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


sister,  I  am  your  brother.  Society  would  put  us  far  apart ; 
prayer  brings  us  close  together.  We  may  have  wandered  in 
our  ways  very  far  from  the  Father  and  far  from  one  another ; 
in  this  prayer  we  clasp  hands. 

"  '  O  my  sisters,  I  steadfastly  beheve  all  these  things  in  my 
very  heart,  and  desire  as  many  as  wish  to  believe  it  to  come 
with  me  to  the  Father's  mercy-seat.' 

"  This  is  an  outline  of  about  twenty  minutes'  talk,  and  many 
seemed  melted  and  not  a  few  joined  in  the  prayer.  At  the 
close  several  came  and  made  a  kind  of  confession  and  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  reform,  and  some  seemed  only  solicitous 
to  obtain  help  to  escape  conviction,  and  some  seemed  totally 
careless." 

Dr.  Deems  wrought  also  among  the  boys  and  men,  becom- 
ing deeply  interested  in  and  following  up  several  cases.  Few 
things  in  his  life  better  illustrate  his  tenderness  of  heart  and 
versatility  of  mind  than  his  work  in  the  Tombs  prison  and  his 
account  thereof. 

Early  in  1868  his  aged  father,  the  Rev.  George  W.  Deems, 
visited  him  for  the  last  time.  No  fihal  affection  and  thought- 
fulness  for  a  father's  interests  could  surpass  that  which  Dr. 
Deems  at  this  time  entertained  and  exhibited  toward  his  re- 
vered father. 

It  was  while  he  was  preaching  in  the  large  chapel  of  the 
university,  and  in  January,  1868,  that  the  poet  sisters  Alice 
and  Phoebe  Gary  first  heard  Dr.  Deems.  They  became  mem- 
bers of  his  congregation ;  he  was  a  constant  visitor  at  their 
home  at  No.  52  East  Twentieth  Street,  and  they  were  often 
welcomed  by  his  family  circle.  At  a  regular  weekly  meeting  of 
congenial  literati  at  the  Gary  home  Dr.  Deems  became  ac- 
quainted with  Horace  Greeley,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows,  and  other 
distinguished  people,  between  some  of  whom  and  himself  there 
grew  up  the  warmest  friendship. 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


241 


In  his  journal  for  February  29,  1868,  he  underscores  this 
entry :  "  To-night  my  son,  Francis  Melville  Deems,  was  grad- 
uated to  the  degree  of  M.D.  by  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
College.  Commencement  in  the  Academy  of  Music.  Splen- 
did audience."  His  journal  for  this  year  reveals  the  fact  that, 
busy  as  he  was,  he  was  a  large  part  of  the  time  not  physically 
well. 

The  greatest  literary  effort  of  his  life  was  commenced  by 
Dr.  Deems  in  the  fall  of  1868.  In  the  Mercantile  Library, 
on  Astor  Place,  he  was  given  an  alcove  in  which  he  wrought 
four  hoiu-s  a  day  on  his  life  of  Jesus.  It  would  appear  that 
for  a  long  time  he  had  contemplated  writing  a  life  of  our  Lord 
from  a  point  of  view  not  taken  by  others  who  had  dealt  with 
this  sacred  theme.  Of  this  work  we  shall  have  more  to  say 
farther  on,  only  remarking  at  this  point  that  for  the  ensuing 
three  years  he  put  the  best  of  his  time,  heart,  brains,  and  toil 
into  this  labor  of  love,  for  Jesus  was  always  to  him  an  intensely 
real  and  beloved  person. 

About  a  month  after  commencing  this  work  Dr.  Deems  and 
Miss  Phoebe  Gary  began  their  joint  labors  on  their  collection 
of  hymns,  which 'was  published  early  in  1869  with  the  title, 
"  Hymns  for  all  Christians."  It  contains  three  hundred  sa- 
cred poems :  one  hundred  hymns,  one  hundred  spiritual  songs, 
and  one  hundred  lyrics.  The  poet  Whittier  said  that  all  that 
are  worthy  to  be  called  "  hymns  "  are  in  this  collection ;  and 
reviewing  the  book  at  the  time  of  its  publication,  the  late 
venerable  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague,  of  Albany,  author  of  "Annals  of 
the  American  Pulpit,"  wrote : 

"  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  examining  the  new  collection 
of  hymns  compiled  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deems  and  Miss  Phoebe 
Gary,  entitled  '  Hymns  for  all  Christians,'  and  have  been  highly 
gratified  by  the  excellent  taste  and  judgment,  as  well  as  the 
truly  devout  spirit,  displayed  in  this  selection.  It  adds  much 
to  the  interest  of  the  work  that  a  brief  account  of  the  authors 


242 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


of  most  of  the  hymns  is  prefixed  to  some  one  of  their  respec- 
tive productions.  I  cannot  doubt  that  the  book  will  be  cor- 
dially welcomed  by  all  evangelical  Christians  as  a  very  impor- 
tant addition  to  our  devotional  literature." 

"  Hymns  for  all  Christians  "  has  been  used  in  the  Sunday 
services  by  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  ever  since  its  publica- 
tion. Its  preparation,  as  the  reader  can  readily  imagine,  was 
congenial  work  for  the  gifted  compilers,  and  was  thoroughly 
enjoyed  by  them  both. 

We  learn  from  his  journal  that  Dr.  Deems,  in  addition  to 
his  other  labors,  was,  during  this  and  the  subsequent  years  of 
his  life,  increasingly  in  demand  as  a  lecturer.  The  subjects  of 
his  more  popular  lectures  being:  "Husbands  and  Wives"; 
"  Proverbs— Not  Solomon's";  "Trifles";  "Unnatural  Cul- 
ture " ;  "A  Plea  for  the  Money-makers  " ;  and  "  Ethics  and 
Poetry  of  Trade  Life."  As  a  lecturer  he  enchained  the  at- 
tention of  his  audiences  by  his  wit,  wisdom,  originality,  and 
eloquence. 

Among  his  published  thoughts  few  have  had  a  warmer  wel- 
come than  his  Christmas  sermon  preached  in  1868,  and  ap- 
pearing as  a  neat  booklet  entitled  "  No  Room  for  Jesus." 

From  His  Journal 

"  Thursday,  December  31,1 868.  Another  year  going  out- 
going out  with  me,  amid  hard  work  and  ten  thousand  blessings." 

The  year  1869  was  a  laborious  but  happy  and  significant 
year  for  Dr.  Deems.  A  few  extracts  from  his  diary  will  give 
the  reader  hints  as  to  his  work  and  experiences  at  this  time. 

"  March  4th.  Went  to  Washington  [from  Baltimore,  where 
he  had  been  attending  conference]  and  witnessed  the  inaugura- 
tion of  General  Grant  as  President  of  the  United  States.  Great 
crowds. 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


243 


"  March  21st.  After  night  sermon  a  telegram  that  my  bro- 
ther George  is  dead." 

"  March  2  2d.  Went  to  Baltimore.  Spent  the  evening  with 
my  poor  father,  who  is  in  grief  for  George." 

"  March  23d.  My  half-brother,  George  W.  Deems,  buried 
to-day  in  a  vault  in  Landowne  Park  Cemetery,  Baltimore.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  WiUiams,  of  Bethany  Church,  performed  the  cere- 
mony." 

"  March  24th.  Went  with  George  Day  and  found  the  grave 
of  my  mother.  Have  not  stood  by  it  in  thirty-four  years.  Am 
to  have  the  remains  removed." 

"  March  31st.  Dr.  Gardner  and  myself  looking  up  lots  for 
a  church." 

"  May  3d.  Entered  on  the  use  of  Room  45,  Bible  House. 
The  Sisters  of  the  Stranger  are  to  take  it,  and  my  study  will 
be  there." 

"  May  loth.    The  Pacific  Railroad  completed  to-day." 
"  May  1 8th.   In  the  afternoon  organizing  the  Sisters  of  the 
Stranger." 

"June  15th.  Went  to  Boston  [where  he  attended  the  great 
Peace  Jubilee,  or  musical  festival,  projected  by  Gilmore,  and 
heard  sublime  vocal  and  instrumental  music,  including  the 
singing  of  Parepa-Rosa]." 

"  September  5th.  The  largest  congregation  in  the  morning 
I  have  ever  had.    Am  enthusiastic." 

"  October  2 1  st.  Worked  all  the  morning  at  the  book.  In  the 
afternoon  read  an  hour  to  Alice  Gary.  Spent  the  evening  with 
Commodore  and  Mrs.  Vanderbilt." 

"  December  31st.  May  God  have  mercy  upon  me  and  for- 
give all  the  shortcomings  of  this  year  gone.  Another  year  to 
answer  for!     Another  year  to  be  grateful  for!  " 

The  entries  in  his  journal  during  1870  are  brief,  but  sugges- 
tive. There  are  frequent  references  to  his  work  on  his  book, 
"Jesus." 


244 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  April  i8th.  At  night  called  to  see  Alice  Cary,  who  seems 
to  be  sinking.  She  kept  me  busy  singing  the  hymns  of  her 
childhood:  'Oh,  how  happy  are  they!'  'Jesus,  lover  of  my 
soul! '  " 

"  June  9th.  Returned  from  Baltimore.  Have  been  watch- 
ing by  my  father.  It  was  feared  he  would  not  be  able  to  sur- 
vive until  I  reached  him;  but  he  has  grown  better." 

"June  24th.  To-day  Commodore  Vanderbilt  authorized 
me  to  agree  to  give  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  the  Mercer  Street 
Church.    Laus  Deo  /  " 

"  July  3d.  While  at  the  supper-table  at  Mr.  James  Lorimer 
Graham's  a  telegram  came  announcing  that  my  father  was 
dead.  Preached  a  short  sermon  and  took  the  train  for  Balti- 
more.   Father  died  to-day  at  half -past  one." 

"July  5th.  Father  buried  to-day.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Huston 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Sargent  made  addresses.  Father 
was  interred  in  Mount  Olivet  Cemetery." 

"  September  25th.  At  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion to  meet  the  foreign  delegates  to  the  Evangelical  Alliance." 

"  Sunday,  October  2d.  Church  of  the  Strangers  reopened 
in  the  Mercer  Street  Church." 

"  October  7th.  At  the  Evangelical  Alliance  heard  Bicker- 
steth,  of  '  Yesterday,  To-day,  and  Forever.'  Spoke  to  him.  A 
kindly  man." 

"  October  i6th.  My  first  sermon  in  the  new  Church  of  the 
Strangers." 

Dr.  Deems  wrote  quite  complete  autobiographical  notes 
for  the  year  187 1,  the  following  extracts  being  the  most  in- 
teresting : 

"  On  the  9th  of  January  I  left  New  York  and  went  to 
Wilmington,  N.  C,  to  perform  the  marriage  rite  for  a  dear 
friend.  This  journey  enabled  me  to  visit  my  friends  in  places 
where  I  had  formerly  been  pastor,  in  Goldsboro,  Duplin 
County,  and  Wilmington.    It  so  happened  that  the  quarterly 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


245 


meeting  of  the  Front  Street  Methodist  Church  was  held  on  the 
following  Sunday,  and  so  I  had  an  opportunity  of  preaching 
to  many  of  my  old  friends.  On  the  i8th  I  lectured  in  Golds- 
boro,  spent  a  day  in  Baltimore,  and  on  Saturday,  the  21st,  find 
this  record  in  my  journal :  '  Returned  to  New  York  and  the 
Russian  baths.' 

"The  following  extract  from  my  monthly  report  to  my 
church  will  show  what  lay  on  my  heart  at  this  period  of  my 
work : 

"  '  My  indebtedness  for  the  repairs  now  stands  at  $3135.08, 
being  only  $167  less  than  last  month,  of  which  $100  was  col- 
lected by  Mr.  James  E.  Halsey.  If  I  had  any  property  to  sell 
I  would  liquidate  this  debt  at  once ;  but  I  have  not.  My 
policy  of  hfe-insurance  is  staked  for  it.  I  fear  you  think  there 
is  some  one  who  will  hft  what  you  do  not  pay.  There  is  no 
reason,  let  me  assure  you,  for  that  supposition.  If  I  live  I 
must  bear  this  burden  and  pay  it  off  out  of  what  savings  the 
denial  of  my  family  can  make.  If  I  die  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers  has  a  very  good  building,  in  capital  repair,  and  my 
family  are  embarrassed.  I  regret  to  say  this,  but  five  months 
of  burden-bearing  have  pressed  it  out  of  me.' 

"  On  the  4th  of  February  I  attended  the  funeral  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Skinner,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
that  worshiped  in  the  building  we  now  occupy,  and  who  died 
a  distinguished  professor  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary. 

"  On  the  7th  of  February  of  this  year  a  remarkable  circum- 
stance took  place.  An  awful  accident  occurred  on  the  Hud- 
son River  Railroad  near  the  town  of  New  Hamburg,  between 
Poughkeepsie  and  Fishkill.  When  the  report  of  that  accident 
came  to  the  city  it  was  told  that  my  wife  and  myself  were 
among  the  victims.  The  excitement  created  by  it  made  quite 
an  event  in  my  history.  It  gave  me  weeks  of  answering  letters 
and  telegrams,  and  afforded  me  the  curious  sensation  of  enjoy- 
ing posthumous  fame  in  some  measure. 


246 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  On  Sunday,  the  1 2th  of  February,  I  had  a  sore  bereave- 
ment :  my  dear  friend,  Alice  Gary,  departed  this  Hfe  a  few 
minutes  before  five  o'clock.  Her  life  had  been  to  me  a  great 
comfort.  Although  more  intimate  with  Phoebe,  because  her 
health  was  so  much  the  stouter  and  she  was  more  frequently 
at  the  chiu-ch,  my  intercourse  with  Alice  was  always  very 
pleasant ;  and  for  weeks  and  months  before  her  departure  I 
had  frequently  visited  her  sick-room  and  endeavored  to  soothe 
and  comfort  her.  She  was  a  rare  woman,  large  of  physique 
but  delicate  of  spirit,  a  woman  of  taste  and  culture  and  of 
purest  religious  sentiment. 

"On  Tuesday,  the  14th,  she  was  buried  from  our  chiu-ch. 
The  service  was  appointed  at  one  o'clock.  A  severe  snow- 
storm, which  fell  all  that  day,  prevented  very  many  from  com- 
ing, but  the  attendance  was  very  large.  The  service  opened 
with  an  organ  voluntary  from  the  '  Messiah,'  followed  by  the 
anthem,  '  Vital  spark  of  heavenly  flame.'  I  read  the  church 
service  and  delivered  a  brief  address,  which  is  thus  reported  in 
the  next  morning  paper. 

"  '  "  I  have  not  thought  of  a  single  word  to  say  to  you  to- 
day, and  I  do  not  know  that  it  is  necessary  to  say  one  word 
more  than  is  set  down  in  the  church  service.  Most  of  us  knew 
and  loved  Alice  Gary,  and  to  those  who  did  not  know  her  my 
words  would  fail  in  describing  the  sweetness  and  gentleness  of 
her  disposition  and  temper."  The  speaker  then  described  the 
patience  with  which  she  had  borne  her  last  sickness,  and  told 
how  he  had  been  by  her  side  when  the  pain  was  so  intense  that 
the  prints  of  her  finger-nails  would  be  left  in  the  palm  of  his 
hand  as  he  was  holding  hers ;  but  she  never  made  a  complaint. 
"  She  was  a  parishioner,"  said  he,  "  who  came  very  close  to 
my  heart  in  her  suffering  and  sorrow.  I  saw  how  good  and 
true  she  was,  and  the  interest  she  had  in  all  the  work  I  had  in 
hand. 

" ' "  And  now  she  has  gone  from  our  mortal  sight,  but  not 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


247 


from  the  eyes  of  our  souls.  She  is  gone  from  her  pain,  as  she 
desired  to  die,  in  sleep,  and  after  a  deep  slumber  she  has 
passed  into  the  morning  of  immortality.  The  last  time  I  saw 
her  I  took  down  her  works  and  alighted  on  this  passage,  so 
full  of  consonance  with  the  anthems  just  sung  by  the  choir,  and 
almost  hke  a  prophecy  of  the  manner  in  which  she  passed 
away: 

"  '  "  '  My  soul  is  full  of  whispered  sorrows, 
My  blindness  is  my  sight ; 
The  shadows  that  I  feared  so  long 
Are  all  alive  with  light.' 

" ' "  There  was  one  thing  in  Alice  Cary  of  which  we  would 
better  remind  ourselves  now,  because  many  of  us  are  working 
people,  and  people  who  work  very  much  with  our  brains ;  and 
I  see  a  number  of  young  people  who  have  come,  out  of  ten- 
derness to  her  memory,  to  the  church  to-day ;  and  there  may 
be  among  them  literary  people  just  commencing  their  career; 
and  they  say, '  Would  I  could  write  so  beautifully  and  so  easily 
as  she  did! '  It  was  not  easily  done.  She  did  nothing  easily, 
but  in  all  this  that  we  read  she  was  an  earnest  worker ;  she  was 
faithful,  painstaking,  careful  of  improving  herself,  up  to  the 
last  moment  of  her  life.  Yesterday  I  looked  into  the  drawer, 
and  the  last  piece  of  manuscript  she  wrote  turned  up,  and  I 
said  to  Phoebe,  'That  is  copied;'  and  she  said,  'No,  that  is 
Alice's  writing.'  It  was  so  exceedingly  plain  it  looked  like 
print  in  large  type,  though  she  wrote  a  very  wretched  hand. 
But  her  sister  told  me  that  when  she  came  to  be  so  weak  that 
she  could  not  write  much  any  longer,  she  began  to  practise  like 
a  little  girl  to  learn  to  form  all  her  letters  anew.  She  woiked 
to  the  very  last  not  only  with  the  brains,  but  the  fingers. 

"  '  "  When  PhcEbe  wrote  me  last  Sunday  that  she  was  alone 
and  that  AHce  was  gone,  I  could  not  help  telling  my  people, 
and  there  was  a  sob  heard  that  went  through  the  congregation. 
It  was  from  an  old  lady,  a  friend  of  hers,  who  often  told  me 


248 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


about  her  and  spoke  of  her  nobility  of  soul.  Alice  Gary  once 
thought  of  making  a  cap  for  her,  and  she  said,  '  I  will  make  a 
cap  for  Mrs.  Brown  ;'  but  her  fingers  ached  so  and  her  arm  be- 
came so  tired  she  had  to  drop  it ;  and  the  needle  is  sticking  in 
that  unfinished  cap  now,  just  as  she  left  it.  She  would  have 
finished  it,  but  they  had  finished  her  own  crown  in  glory,  and 
she  could  not  stay  away  from  her  coronation.  And  we  will  keep 
that  cap  with  care ;  and  I  think  Jesus  will  remind  her  of  it  and 
say, '  Child,  inasmuch  as  you  did  it  to  one  of  the  least,  you  did 
it  unto  me.'  Should  I  speak  for  hours  I  could  only  tell  you 
how  I  loved  her.  She  came  to  me  in  the  winter  of  my  for- 
tunes, when  I  had  very  few  friends,  and  I  loved  her  and  will 
revere  her  memory  forever— forever."  ' 

"  On  the  following  Thursday  I  delivered  an  address  at  the 
dinner  of  the  alumni  of  Dickinson  College,  held  at  Delmonico's, 
and  on  the  following  day  I  lectured  at  Port  Chester,  N.  Y., 
and  made  a  very  pleasant  visit  to  Summerfield  House,  at  that 
time  occupied  by  the  family  of  Mr.  Blackstock,  who  had  mar- 
ried one  of  Summerfield's  sisters.  A  single  sister  was  still  hv- 
ing  with  them.  I  saw  many  mementos  of  the  wonderful  young 
preacher  who  had  pronounced  his  benediction  on  my  earliest 
life. 

"I  find  in  my  journal  of  Sunday,  the  19th,  the  following 
entry :  '  Commodore  Vanderbilt  and  Daniel  Drew  sat  in  one 
pew.'  I  find  also  this  entry  on  the  Sunday  following :  '  Heard 
Dr.  McCosh  lecture.  (Memorandum.  — Never  hear\i\m  again, 
but  read  him.)' 

"  The  2d  of  April  was  the  first  Sunday  that  sickness  kept  me 
from  my  pulpit  since  I  commenced  to  preach  in  New  York. 
During  that  week  I  sufTered  very  much  from  my  old  catarrhal 
affection,  which  in  the  South  had  given  me  such  distress  in  my 
eyes  and  ears. 

"  On  the  20th  of  May  my  son.  Dr.  Frank  M.  Deems,  left 
for  Europe  to  pursue  his  studies  in  hospitals  and  colleges  there. 


LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


240 


"  On  the  27th  of  June  in  this  year  I  affiliated  with  Crescent 
Lodge,  No.  402,  Freemasons,  meeting  then  in  Union  Square. 
For  years  I  enjoyed  the  association  of  the  members  of  this 
lodge,  acting  all  the  time  as  their  chaplain,  except  one  year, 
when  they  elected  me  Senior  Warden. 

"  In  the  summer  of  this  year  my  family  took  board  at  a  farm- 
house a  mile  and  a  half  back  from  Eagle  Rock  on  the  Orange 
Mountain,  in  New  Jersey.  It  was  a  simple,  quiet,  enjoyable 
place,  not  difficult  of  access,  away  from  any  place  of  fashion- 
able resort,  where  they  hved  in  great  quiet  and  had  much  en- 
joyment. Whenever  it  was  practicable  I  spent  a  few  days 
with  them. 

"On  the  ist  of  August  I  heard  of  the  death  of  Phoebe 
Gary.  From  the  time  of  AHce's  death  she  commenced  to  de- 
cline. Her  health  had  been  perfect ;  she  scarcely  knew  any- 
thing of  aches  and  pains ;  there  was  not  a  gray  hair  on  her 
head  ;  but  she  aged,  grew  pale  and  wrinkled  and  gray  ;  every- 
thing lost  power  to  interest  her.  A  few  Sundays  after  Alice 
died  Phoebe  was  in  church,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service  came 
to  Mrs.  Deems  and  said,  '  I  feel  so  lonely  ;  let  me  sit  with  you 
in  your  pew  during  church  service.'  She  came  into  my  study 
and  laid  her  head  upon  my  shoulder  and  wept  violently.  This 
was  so  utterly  unlike  her  that  it  almost  unmanned  me.  I  had 
been  accustomed  in  the  weakness  brought  on  by  my  severe 
struggles  to  look  to  Phoebe  for  reserves  of  strength.  I  cheered 
her  as  well  as  I  could,  visiting  her  in  her  sick-room  before  her 
removal  to  Newport,  and  by  all  playfulness  and  badinage  and 
every  method  I  could  command  endeavored  to  assuage  her 
grief  and  divert  her  attention ;  but  it  was  a  case  of  spiritual 
Siamese  twinship  :  neither  could  survive  the  other.  Their  de- 
parture has  left  me  in  great  loneliness ;  they  have  been  to  me 
two  sweet,  good,  helpful  sisters. 

"  The  congregations  of  the  church  during  the  summer  were 
very  large.    I  had  greatly  feared  that  I  should  not  be  able  to 


260 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


fill  so  large  a  church  as  that  into  which  we  had  removed ;  but 
week  after  week  has  given  me  a  pleasant  disappointment,  and 
Sunday  after  Sunday  of  the  summer  and  fall  of  this  year  the 
congregations  filled  every  available  portion  of  the  church. 

"  On  the  26th  of  October  I  assisted  at  laying  the  corner- 
stone of  the  Franklin  monument  in  Printing-house  Square. 
On  this  occasion  occurred  a  little  incident  which  subsequently 
got  into  the  papers  and  gave  me  a  wide-spread  reputation  for 
punctuality.  My  watch  had  gone  wrong  and  I  had  been  de- 
layed by  a  slow  street-car;  when  I  reached  the  Astor  House  I 
found  I  had  but  a  minute  and  a  half  in  which  I  must  gain  Mr. 
Greeley's  office  on  the  corner  of  Nassau  and  Spruce  streets,  and 
every  approach  seemed  blocked.  I  forced  my  way  as  rapidly  as 
I  could  up  Nassau  Street ;  but  the  company  were  in  waiting.  It 
wanted  just  one  minute  to  twelve ;  the  master  of  ceremonies 
said,  '  We  are  all  here  except  Dr.  Deems,  who  is  to  offer  the 
prayer.'  Mr.  Greeley  said,  '  He  is  a  punctual  man,  but  lives 
at  some  distance ;  give  him  a  few  minutes.'  Dr.  Irenaeus 
Prime,  the  editor  of  the  New  York  '  Observer,'  said,  '  Gentle- 
men, if  he  is  not  here  at  the  precise  moment  we  may  as  well 
send  for  the  coroner.'  As  he  said  that  the  City  Hall  clock 
commenced  to  strike  twelve  and  I  opened  the  door:  twelve 
was  the  appointed  hour.  I  did  not  understand  Dr.  Prime's 
quizzical  look  when  he  turned  to  the  company  and  said, 
'  Gentlemen,  I  told  you  so.' 

"  In  November  I  left  for  Charlotte,  N.  C,  to  attend  the 
session  of  the  conference  there,  and  I  returned  to  my  home 
bearing  many  and  pleasant  reminiscences  of  my  Southern  trip. 

"  My  Christmas  dinner  was  taken,  with  my  whole  family,  at 
Commodore  Vanderbilt's,  and  we  had  a  most  enjoyable  time." 


CHAPTER  X 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR,  1872-76 


N  the  last  day  of  February,  1872,  as  we  learn  from  Dr. 


Deems's  journal,  the  first  volume  of  his  book,  "Jesus," 
was  on  the  publisher's  counter.  This  was  the  consummation  of 
three  years  of  devoted  toil,  and  is  a  monument  to  the  scholar- 
ship, industry,  genius,  and  spirituality  of  its  author.  In  fact, 
it  ranks  as  the  greatest  literary  work  of  his  hfe.  It  is  a  large 
octavo  volume  of  over  seven  hundred  pages,  illustrated  with  an 
ideal  head  of  Jesus  after  Guercino's  "  Ecce  Homo,"  and  sixty- 
five  engravings  on  wood,  drawn  by  the  celebrated  traveler-artist, 
A.  L.  Rawson.  In  the  preface  to  the  first  edition  Dr.  Deems 
disclaimed  the  idea  that  he  was  writing  a  hfe  of  Christ,  and 
declared  his  work  to  be  the  facts  in  the  life  of  the  person 
Jesus.  He  closes  the  last  chapter  with  this  language : 
"  Who  is  this  Jesus? 

"  I  have  told  his  story  as  simply  and  conscientiously  as  pos- 
sible, and  have  honestly  endeavored  to  apprehend  and  to  repre- 
sent the  consciousness  of  Jesus  at  each  moment  of  his  career. 
The  work  of  the  historian  is  completed.  Each  reader  has  now 
the  responsibility  of  saying  who  he  is.  All  agree  that  he  was 
a  man.  The  finest  intellects  of  eighteen  centuries  have  be- 
lieved that  he  was  the  greatest  and  best  man  that  ever  lived. 
All  who  have  so  believed  have  become  better  men  therefor. 
We  have  seen  that  he  never  performed  an  act  or  spoke  a  word 


251 


252 


CHAkLES  PORCE  DEEMS 


which  would  have  been  unbecoming  in  the  Creator  of  the  uni- 
verse if  the  Creator  should  ever  clothe  himself  with  human 
flesh.  Millions  of  men — kings  and  poets  and  historians  and 
philosophers  and  busy  merchants  and  rude  mechanics  and 
purest  women  and  simple  children — have  believed  that  he  is 
God.  And  all  who  have  devoutly  believed  this  and  lived  by 
this  as  a  truth  have  become  exemplary  for  all  that  is  beautiful 
in  holiness. 

"  What  is  he  who  can  so  live  and  so  die  as  to  produce  such 
intellectual  and  moral  results? 
"  Reader,  you  must  answer." 

The  book  received  glowing  encomiums  from  the  press  both 
in  America  and  Europe.  Professor  Francis  W.  Upham,  author 
of  "  The  Wise  Men  "  and  "  Thoughts  on  the  Holy  Gospels," 
said  that  he  spent  a  winter  of  retirement  in  Europe  in  reading 
all  the  lives  of  Jesus  that  had  ever  been  published  in  the  English 
language,  and  that,  in  his  opinion,  the  work  by  Dr.  Deems 
outranks  them  all ;  and  the  late  Dr.  Henry  Smith,  of  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  used  to  speak  of  Dr.  Deems's 
volume  "  Jesus  "  as  "  that  great  book." 

This  undertaking  brought  to  completion,  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion more  closely  to  his  church  work,  raising  an  endowment 
fund  whose  interest  should  annually  pay  to  the  Sailors'  Snug 
Harbor  Association  the  rent  for  the  ground  on  which  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers  stands. 

Dr.  Deems  took  no  summer  vacations.  The  name  and 
nature  of  his  work,  and  the  temperament  of  the  man,  pre- 
cluded that  indulgence.  Yet  he  never  censured  his  brother 
ministers  who  did  take  a  season  of  rest  in  summer,  although 
he  always  contended  that  there  was  something  grievously 
wrong  somewhere  when  multitudes  of  Christian  pulpits  in 
New  York  were  silent  at  a  season  of  the  year  when  unusual 
numbers  of  visitors  were  in  the  city  and  Satan  unusually  active. 
Dr.  Deems's  friends  believe  that  he  shortened  his  life  by  his 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


253 


incessant  toil.  During  1872  his  family  again  sought  a  retreat 
from  the  city  on  Orange  Mountain,  where  they  were  visited 
between  Sundays  by  the  busy  pastor,  who  ever  brought  glad- 
ness with  him,  and  who  entered  into  the  out-of-door  games  and 
recreations  with  that  zest  and  push  which  made  him  so  suc- 
cessful in  his  serious  undertakings. 

In  the  fall  of  1872,  at  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  Dr. 
Deems  married  his  elder  daughter,  Minnie,  to  Mr.  Marion  J. 
Verdery,  of  Augusta,  Ga.  Of  another  interesting  incident  of 
his  life  during  the  closing  months  of  this  year  he  thus  writes 
in  his  journal  under  date  of  October  2  2d  :  "  Spent  the  day  on 
an  excursion  up  the  Hudson  River  with  the  English  historian, 
Mr.  Froude,  and  the  philanthropist,  Miss  Emily  Faithful.  De- 
lightful time!  At  night  was  at  Dr.  John  G.  Holland's  at  a 
reception  given  to  George  MacDonald,  the  novelist.  A  great 
crowd.    Called  in  at  Crescent  Lodge." 

Sometime  during  1873  Dr.  Deems  was  enabled  to  use  his 
influence  to  assist  in  the  founding  of  a  noble  institution  of 
learning  in  the  South.  The  next  best  thing  to  doing  something 
great  and  praiseworthy  one's  self  is  to  get  somebody  else  who 
can  to  do  it.  Dr.  Deems,  as  we  have  seen,  was  always  deeply 
interested  in  the  cause  of  education ;  also  he  loved  the  South. 
He  had  won  the  complete  confidence  of  the  elder  Cornelius 
Vanderbilt,  and,  aware  that  efforts  were  on  foot  to  establish  a 
college  in  Tennessee  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South,  Dr.  Deems  contributed  his  full  share  to- 
ward the  influences  which  led  Commodore  Vanderbilt  to  found 
Vanderbilt  University  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  To  this  great  in- 
stitution Mr.  Vanderbilt  gave  one  million  dollars. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1873  that  Dr.  Deems  bought  and 
moved  into  the  house  No.  429  West  Twenty-second  Street, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  for  fifteen  years.  At  last  he  was 
able  to  have  that  which  up  to  this  time  his  soul  had  yearned 
for  in  vain,  a  comfortable  and  permanent  home.    It  is  true 


254 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


that  it  was  over  a  mile  from  his  church,  but  this  fact  he  con- 
sidered an  advantage,  as  it  would  make  his  home  a  retreat. 
His  study  was  in  the  church,  where  he  attended  to  all  his 
business.  The  house  was  kept  as  free  as  possible  from  all  re- 
minders of  his  regular  work,  that  it  might  afford  him  an  asylum 
from  his  flood  of  cares.  With  all  the  intensity  of  his  nature 
he  enjoyed  his  home  and  his  family  while  living  on  Twenty- 
second  Street. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  tell  what  Dr.  Deems  was  in  his 
home  in  more  truthful  or  more  eloquent  language  than  that 
used  by  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Marion  J.  Verdery,  when,  in  the 
closing  address  at  Dr.  Deems's  funeral,  in  1893,  he  said,  among 
other  things : 

"  Out  in  the  busy  world,  where  he  spent  so  much  of  his  life, 
he  was  the  incarnation  of  activity  and  industry.  Dashing  at 
work  with  an  energy  suggestive  of  military  genius,  he  accom- 
plished more  in  a  day  than  many  men  do  in  a  week.  Work 
was  not  second  but  first  nature  to  him.  I  do  not  believe  he 
ever  wilfully  wasted  an  hour  in  his  life.  He  counted  time  by 
seconds,  and  contended  that  every  tick  of  a  man's  watch 
meant  a  breath  of  his  life,  and  therefore  was  precious.  This 
marvelous  energy,  illumined  by  the  highest  order  of  intellec- 
tuality, and  directed  by  a  spirit  wholly  consecrated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  inspired  his  life  of  vast  usefulness  and  made  Dr. 
Deems  the  great  and  good  man  that  he  was.  Thus  you  all 
knew  him  out  in  the  world! 

"  At  home,  oh,  what  a  sweet  privilege  to  have  known  him 
there!  I  cannot  trust  myself  to  talk  much  about  it.  Words 
seem  too  harsh  to  wrap  our  tenderest  thoughts  in.  If  I  could 
show  you  through  my  heart's  eyes  a  thousand  pictures  that 
hang  on  memory's  wall,  and  let  them  be  my  hearthstone 
tribute,  love  would  be  content  with  the  offering,  and  the  sweet- 
ness of  home  be  idealized. 

"  He  never  came  in  from  work  too  tired  to  be  tender.  He 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


255 


never  became  so  engrossed  by  his  interest  in  outside  affairs 
that  he  lost  relish  for  domestic  affiliations.  His  wit  was  never 
so  dulled  by  use  in  public  places  that  it  ceased  to  sparkle  in  the 
family  circle.  His  humor  did  not  exhaust  itself  in  great  crowds 
with  the  hope  of  applause ;  he  made  his  rarest  fun  and  told 
his  best  stories  at  the  fireside. 

"  When  serious  he  delighted  to  fold  us  all  in  his  abiding  love 
and  enrich  us  with  his  blessings.  When  joyous  he  suffused  the 
whole  house  with  the  sunshine  of  his  soul  and  made  his  glad- 
ness contagious. 

"  With  his  grandchildren  he  was  playfellow,  even  after  he 
wrote  '  My  Septuagint ' ;  with  his  children  he  was  always  boon 
companion ;  and  to  his  sweetheart  bride  of  fifty  years  he  was 
courtly  knight  and  loyal  lover  down  to  their  golden  wedding-day. 

"  His  whole  life  was  a  love-letter  to  mankind,  with  its  sweet- 
est, tenderest,  and  hohest  passages  dedicated  to  his  family." 

At  this  time  Dr.  Deems  was  hving  in  the  fullness  of  his 
physical,  intellectual,  and  spiritual  vigor.  Much  as  he  loved 
his  home,  he  almost  literally  lived  the  last  twenty  years  of  his 
life  in  public.  Few  men  in  New  York  were  doing  as  many 
different  things,  and  doing  them  as  well,  as  he.  We  need  not 
tax  the  reader  with  details ;  much  must  be  left  unsaid  ;  but  the 
language  of  the  Apostle  Paul  was  applicable  to  Dr.  Deems, 
"in  labors  more  abundant."  Nothing,  however,  was  allowed 
to  detract  from  his  distinctive  work  for  Christ  and  souls.  At 
the  February  communion  in  1874  as  many  persons  were  added 
to  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  as  composed  the  whole  congre- 
gation when  the  pastor  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  chapel 
of  the  university.  The  names  of  over  five  hundred  communi- 
cants were  on  the  church  roll. 

For  the  first  time  in  his  New  York  pastorate  Dr.  Deems, 
yielding  to  the  demands  of  his  overtaxed  body  and  mind 
and  the  urgent  advice  of  his  church  and  family,  on  January  5, 
1875,  went  to  Florida,  where  he  spent  four  weeks  with  con- 


256 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


genial  people  and  under  the  restful  influences  of  the  balmy  air 
and  historic  and  romantic  associations  of  old  St.  Augustine. 

On  his  return  from  the  South  his  people  gave  him  a  royal 
welcome  in  the  church,  which  was  decorated  and  thronged  with 
people.  The  Rev.  Dr.  R.  S.  Moran,  who  had  supplied  the 
pulpit  in  Dr.  Deems's  absence,  made  the  address  of  welcome 
in  a  most  happy  strain.    One  who  was  present  says : 

"  The  response  of  Dr.  Deems  was  equally  felicitous.  He 
commenced  by  saying,  '  I  am  glad  I  am  home.'  (Applause.) 
A  voice  in  the  audience  exclaimed, '  So  are  we ! '  This  brought 
down  the  house.  The  doctor  then  proceeded  somewhat  in  the 
following  terms :  '  It  is  really  worth  going  away  to  be  so  wel- 
comed back.  If  I  had  known  that  it  was  so  good  a  thing  to 
be  so  received  I  should  have  gone  oftener.  But  perhaps  if  I 
had  my  reception  would  have  been  less  enthusiastic.  I  knew 
you  were  to  meet  me  to-night,  but  such  a  demonstration  of 
affection  surely  had  not  entered  my  mind.  This  really  looks 
like  a  wedding  scene,  and  I  feel  as  if  I  were  a  party  to  a  bridal 
with  the  dear  Church  of  the  Strangers. 

" '  It  is  not  the  least  element  in  the  pleasure  to-night  that 
these  nuptials  should  have  for  officiating  priest  my  excellent 
friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Moran.  One  of  the  many  ways  in  which 
you  have  shown  me  kindness  is  that  quick  manner  you  have 
of  immediately  taking  any  friend  of  mine  to  be  your  friend ; 
and  it  is  very  gratifying  to  me  that  you  have  so  keenly  appre- 
ciated the  admirable  and  devoted  services  of  my  dear  brother 
in  my  absence.  But  never  did  I  hear  officiating  parson  talk 
to  any  party  as  Dr.  Moran  has  talked  to  me.  I  do  not  know 
how  to  be  equal  with  him.  But  now  and  here  I  give  him 
warning  that  if  ever  a  good  providence  afford  me  an  opportu- 
nity of  marrying  him  to  a  church  or  to  a  woman,  I  will  pay  him 
with  interest.'  (Applause.) 

"Dr.  Deems  continued:  'It  is  not  needful  that  I  tell  you 
that  I  love  this  church.    Our  relations  are  pecuhar.  Perhaps 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


257 


nothing  similar  exists  in  this  city.  I  did  not  come  to  you ;  you 
did  not  call  me.  You  had  no  organization.  You  did  not  offer 
me  a  salary  and  ask  me  to  a  church.  You  had  no  existence 
originally.  I  began  to  preach,  and  you  came  to  me,  each  one, 
so  that  I  know  your  church-membership  from  the  beginning. 
You  did  not  furnish  me  a  church  building.  God's  good  provi- 
dence gave  me  the  sweet  privilege  of  doing  that  for  you. 
This  makes  our  relations  peculiar.  It  makes  the  burden 
harder  for  me  and  gives  me  more  need  of  love.  It  would  be 
too  bad  to  stay  in  this  church  without  affection  for  the  pastor, 
because  you  cannot  send  him  away. 

"  '  But  sometime  I  shall  go  away  to  come  back  no  more. 
I  shall  go  to  the  Father's  house.  I  shall  go  before  many  of 
you.  I  am  older  than  a  majority  of  the  members  of  this  church. 
As  I  have  stood  at  the  door  of  this  church  and  welcomed  you, 
until  the  little  church  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  con- 
gregations in  the  city,  so  may  I  stand  beside  the  Saviour  at  the 
gates  when  you  enter  after  me,  and  to  each  have  the  blessed 
privilege  of  exclaiming,  in  the  words  of  the  legend  which  you 
have  spread  in  evergreens  across  the  chapel  to-night,  "  Wel- 
come home,  welcome  home! "  ' 

"  After  another  song  by  the  children  the  pastor  was  con- 
ducted to  the  Sunday-school  room,  whither  he  was  followed 
by  the  people,  all  eager  to  clasp  his  hand.  This  room  was  also 
hung  with  evergreens  and  garnished  with  flowers. 

"  To  render  the  entertainment  more  social,  a  bountiful  colla- 
tion was  provided,  and  words  of  cheer  were  exchanged  between 
sips  of  fragrant  coffee.  All  were  happy.  Hand-shaking  and 
good-wishing  were  general." 

On  Monday,  October  4,  1875,  Deems  delivered  the 
opening  address  at  the  dedication  and  inauguration  of  Vander- 
bilt  University,  commenting  upon  which  the  Nashville  "  Ameri- 
can "  said  at  the  time : 

"  Probably  no  one  feature  incident  to  the  inauguration  of 


268 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Vanderbilt  University  attracted  more  attention  than  the  mas- 
terly address  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deems,  of  New  York, 
a  full  report  of  which  is  published  elsewhere.  Elaborate  in 
conception  and  detail,  it  treats  of  the  subjects  discussed  in  a 
way  to  claim  the  closest  attention  throughout.  The  burden 
of  the  address  bears  on  the  relations  between  science  and  re- 
ligion, and  many  a  subtle  thrust  is  given  by  the  learned  speaker 
at  those  he  apdy  terms  weak  rehgionists  and  weak  scientists. 
There  is  no  real  conflict,  he  contends,  between  science  and 
religion.  It  is  only  guesses  on  both  sides  which  collide,  and 
the  result  is  an  explosion  of  bubbles,  not  bombs.  We  do  not 
know  of  any  more  valuable  contribution  ta  the  current  discus- 
sion on  one  of  the  profoundest  of  topics  than  the  present 
address — a  production  which  cannot  fail  to  elicit  the  most 
favorable  comment  in  all  quarters  and  add  no  little  to  the  al- 
ready great  fame  of  its  distinguished  author." 

At  the  close  of  this  address  the  speaker  was  handed  a  tele- 
gram from  the  generous  founder  of  the  university,  which  he 
read  to  the  audience :  "  Peace  and  good  will  to  all  men." 
With  characteristic  aptness  and  impressiveness,  Dr.  Deems 
turned,  and,  looking  toward  a  full-length  portrait  of  the  com- 
modore, with  deep  feeling  replied,  "  '  Cornelius,  thy  prayer  is 
heard,  and  thine  alms  are  had  in  remembrance  in  the  sight  of 
God.' "  The  dramatic  interest  of  this  scene  can  be  imagined 
better  than  described.  Dr.  Deems  ever  took  a  profound  and 
practical  interest  in  Vanderbilt  University,  where,  on  the  occa- 
sions of  his  subsequent  visits,  he  was  uniformly  given  a  most 
hearty  welcome. 

From  His  Journal 

"  December  4th  [1875].  This  is  my  fifty-fifth  birthday.  I 
have  finished  another  year.  I  reconsecrate  myself  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  greatly  humbled  at 
the  little  I  have  already  accomplished." 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


259 


To  the  North  Carolina  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  which  met  at  Wilmington,  Decem- 
ber I,  1875,  Dr.  Deems  sent  the  following  letter: 

"  Church  of  the  Strangers, 
"  New  York,  November  29,  1875. 

"  To  Bishop  McTyeire, 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother  :  Thirty-four  years  ago  I  be- 
came a  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference.  In  the 
more  than  a  third  of  a  century  which  has  elapsed,  until  last 
year  I  never  missed  a  session  and  never  failed  to  be  present 
at  the  opening,  except  in  a  solitary  instance,  when  I  was  un- 
avoidably detained  on  the  road.  During  that  time  I  have 
served  the  conference  and  the  church  as  circuit-rider,  stationed 
preacher,  presiding  elder,  professor,  secretary  of  the  conference, 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference,  and  president  of  the  An- 
nual Conference.  I  have  never  asked  for  any  office,  appoint- 
ment, or  accommodation,  but  have  gone,  at  any  pecuniary, 
personal,  and  domestic  sacrifice,  wherever  and  whenever  sent. 

"  In  the  providence  of  God,  without  my  own  seeking,  I  am 
the  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  an  evangelical  in- 
dependent church  in  this  city.  The  history  of  my  connection 
with  it  is  well  known  to  many.  I  came  to  New  York  in  1865 
to  attend  to  certain  Southern  interests,  supporting  myself  and 
family  by  literary  labor  while  engaged  in  the  effort.  On  ac- 
count of  the  prejudices  naturally  engendered  by  the  then  recent 
Civil  War  that  project  failed,  and  I  was  ready  to  return  to 
North  Carolina  or  accept  the  presidency  of  a  Southern  college 
then  tendered  me.  The  bishops  of  the  Southern  Methodist 
Church  unanimously  recommended  me  to  stay  in  New  York 
and  take  care  of  a  congregation  which  had  begun  to  gather 
around  me,  composed  mostly  of  strangers  of  different  denomi- 
nations. That  recommendation  was  communicated  to  me  by 
Bishop  Pierce,  and  you,  Bishop  McTyeire,  wrote  me,  as  it 


260 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


were,  prophetically, '  You  went  to  New  York  for  one  purpose : 
our  God  is  keeping  you  there  for  another.'  The  congregation 
grew  and  consoKdated  into  a  church,  and  every  month  that 
church  has  grown,  until  now  it  is  regarded  by  many  as  one  of 
the  most  important  centers  of  religious  influence  in  America. 
The  Southern  Methodist  Church  has  appointed  me  to  this 
pastorate  from  year  to  year,  and  the  Church  of  the  Strangers, 
although  it  is  independent  and  a  great  majority  of  the  members 
have  never  been  Methodists,  has  not  been  unwilling  to  receive 
me  under  that  appointment. 

"  For  several  reasons  I  have  not  sought  to  make  any  altera- 
tion in  my  ecclesiastical  status.  I  am  not  given  to  change,  but 
cling  to  old  friends  and  old  associations.  Moreover,  a  num- 
ber of  leading  laymen  and  ministers  of  the  Southern  Methodist 
Church  have  urged  me  to  continue  my  membership  therein. 
Furthermore,  I  supposed  it  was  the  unanimous  wish  of  the 
bishops  that  I  should  remain ;  and  I  was  doing  a  work  which 
honored  the  church  and  brought  no  burden  to  it.  Since  I 
have  been  pastor  here  I  have  not  drawn  one  dollar,  so  far  as 
I  know,  from  the  Southern  Methodist  Church,  or  any  member 
thereof,  for  the  support  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  while 
my  pastorate  in  this  church— I  write  what  is  notorious — has 
been  the  providential  occasion  of  thousands  upon  thousands 
of  dollars  being  sent  not  only  to  Southern  Methodists  and  their 
institutions,  but  also  to  other  evangelical  churches  in  the  South. 

"  Perhaps  it  was  in  view  of  all  these  things  that  the  General 
Conference  of  1870  passed  a  resolution  covering  any  case  Hke 
mine  that  might  arise.  That  resolution  was  rescinded  by  the 
General  Conference  in  1874  and  another  in  a  modified  form 
was  adopted.  I  have  this  to  say :  that  I  had  nothing  to  do, 
by  request,  suggestion,  or  otherwise,  with  any  of  these  proceed- 
ings ;  I  have  never  desired  any  action  to  be  taken  by  the  An- 
nual or  General  Conference  exceptionally  in  my  favor. 

"  Notwithstanding  all  this,  there  are  members  of  the  North 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


261 


Carolina  Conference  who  seem  to  believe  that  I  ought  to 
abandon  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  or  withdraw  from  the 
conference.  Their  agitation  of  the  case  "subjects  me  to  the 
constant  annoyance  of  being  misapprehended  by  good  men 
and  misrepresented  by  others. 

"  I  believe  I  am  as  much  called  of  God  to  the  office  of  pas- 
tor of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  as  you  can  believe  that  you 
are  called  to  the  office  of  bishop  in  the  Southern  Methodist 
Church.  It  seems  to  me  that  I  should  as  much  be  leaving  the 
lead  of  the  Master  in  quitting  my  present  work  as  you  could 
think  that  you  would  be  abandoning  your  line  of  duty  by  re- 
turning to  your  Annual  Conference. 

"  So  long  as  I  felt  that  the  North  Carolina  Conference  de- 
sired to  retain  me  I  made  no  motion  to  withdraw.  In  the 
membership  of  that  conference  I  expected  to  close  at  once  my 
ministry  and  my  life.  But  I  do  not  believe  that  the  Master 
desires  me  to  stand  in  a  position  in  which  I  am  made  by  others 
an  occasion  of  concern  to  the  authorities  of  the  church,  and 
of  trouble  to  the  brethren  who  love  me,  simply  that  I  may  in- 
dulge one  of  my  sentiments,  however  excellent  that  sentiment 
may  be.  In  view  of  all  these  things,  through  you  I  respect- 
fully ask  the  conference  to  grant  me  a  location.  I  should  have 
done  this  in  person  if  the  session  of  the  conference  had  not 
fallen  at  a  time  when  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of  the 
church  render  my  presence  here  more  than  usually  needed. 

"  This  motion  on  my  part  is  made  without  consultation  with 
any  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference  or  any  officers 
of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  It  is  done  in  the  fear  of  God 
and  in  charity  toward  all  my  brethren  of  the  North  Carolina 
Conference.  I  love  North  Carolina.  The  most  of  my  public 
ministry  was  in  that  State.  All  my  children  were  born  there. 
My  two  dead  sons  lie  in  its  soil ;  my  first-bom,  my  young  hero- 
martyr,  sleeps  in  the  cemetery  in  Wilmington.  God  has  given 
me  many  spiritual  children  out  of  the  population  of  North 


262 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Carolina.  They  will  bear  me  witness  that  by  the  space  of 
twenty-four  years  I  preached  the  gospel  from  town  to  town  and 
from  house  to  house,  coveting  no  man's  silver  or  gold,  but  gen- 
erally partly  and  sometimes  wholly  maintaining  myself,  that  I 
might  serve  the  people  in  the  ministry  of  the  Word.  I  left  the 
State  no  richer  than  I  was  when  I  entered  it,  except  in 
memories  and  in  friends.  My  clerical  brethren  will  bear  me 
witness  that  I  have  belonged  to  no  clique,  have  opposed  no 
measure  captiously,  and  set  myself  against  no  good  man  for 
his  injury.  At  the  same  time  I  have  not  through  self-seeking 
failed  to  oppose  frankly  every  measure  which  I  believed  to  be 
hurtful  to  the  church  and  every  man  whom  I  regarded  as  an 
ecclesiastical  demagogue. 

"  It  is  a  comfort  to  know  that  I  have  enjoyed  the  affection 
and  confidence  of  the  most  able  and  beloved  of  the  ministers,  the 
Brocks,  the  Leighs,  the  Bumpasses,  the  Doubs,  the  Nicholsons, 
the  Pells,  the  Reids,  the  Barringers,  and  others  now  in  glory, 
as  well  as  those  living  who  deserve  to  be  named  in  the  same 
category.  If,  through  want  of  thought  on  my  part  or  any 
frailty  of  my  temper  or  character,  I  have  given  a  moment's 
pain  to  any  brother,  I  most  humbly  beg  that  he  will  treat  it  as 
we  all  pray  the  Lord  Jesus  to  treat  all  our  sins. 

"  And  now,  desiring  this  letter  to  be  read  in  open  conference, 
I  pray  that  the  Head  of  the  church  may  pour  upon  you  and 
all  other  officers,  ministers,  and  members  of  the  Southern 
Methodist  Church  the  abundant  blessing  of  his  heavenly  grace. 
Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  finish  my  course  with  joy  and  this 
ministry  which  I  have  received  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  Affectionately  and  faithfully  your  brother, 

"  Charles  F.  Deems." 

After  fraternal  remarks  by  Bishop  H.  N.  McTyeire,  the 
presiding  bishop,  and  other  members  of  the  conference.  Dr. 
Deems  was  by  vote  "  located  "  at  the  Church  of  the  Strangers 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


263 


in  New  York  City,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  draft 
appropriate  resolutions. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  the  session  the  committee  reported  as 
follows,  and  their  report  was  adopted : 

"  Whereas,  Dr.  Deems,  who  has  been  for  thirty-four  years 
a  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference  (believing  it  to 
be  his  duty),  has  asked  for  and  has  been  granted  a  location ; 
and  Whereas,  He  has  been  eminently  useful  and  successful 
during  his  connection  with  our  conference,  in  his  eloquent 
pulpit  ministrations,  in  his  ardent  work  as  a  competent  instruc- 
tor in  our  institutions  of  learning,  and  in  wielding  his  vast  in- 
fluence over  the  pubhc  mind  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christ ; 
therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  we  can  but  deplore  the  act  that  severs  him 
from  us ;  but  as,  in  the  providence  of  God,  his  lot  is  cast  in  a 
field  of  labor  where  we  believe  his  brilliant  talents  and  active 
energy  will  accomplish  grander  results  for  the  good  of  souls, 
we  acquiesce  in  his  decision. 

"Resolved,  That  we  duly  appreciate  his  valuable  services 
while  among  us,  and  pray  that  the  benedictions  of  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  may  be  upon  him  in  his  present  important 
and  inviting  field  of  labor. 

"  Respectfully  submitted, 

"  W.  H.  BOBBITT, 

"J.  H.  Wheeler, 
"  Ira  T.  Wvche." 

Dr.  Deems,  by  this  action  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference 
and  by  not  uniting  with  any  Quarterly  Conference  or  church 
in  the  North,  practically  suiTered  his  connection  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  to  lapse,  and  technically 
was  not  a  member  of  any  church  or  denomination.  Practically 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  somewhat 


264 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


as  a  pastor  of  a  Congregational  church  is  at  the  same  time  a 
member  of  that  church.  And  now,  however  anomalous  his 
ecclesiastical  position  might  be  and  seem,  it  was  in  reality  very 
clear  and  simple.  He  was  left  free  to  be  the  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers  as  long  as  he  pleased,  and  as  such  was 
responsible  to  God  and  to  public  opinion ;  but  answerable  to 
no  ecclesiastical  body  on  earth  except  his  own  congregation, 
and  to  them  he  was  responsible  only  to  a  limited  extent.  If 
his  people  did  not  like  him  or  his  doctrine  they  could  argue  the 
matter  with  him,  and  if  that  did  not  restore  harmony  they 
could  leave  him  and  the  church,  and  he  would  have  had  empty 
seats. 

It  was  indeed  an  exceptional  position  which  Dr.  Deems 
held ;  but  the  reader  of  the  Preface  of  this  volume  will  remem- 
ber that  therein  it  was  claimed  that  Dr.  Deems's  character  and 
career  were  exceptional,  and  that  fact  was  given  as  one  of  the 
reasons  for  the  publication  of  this  memoir.  How  well  he  dis- 
charged his  peculiar  duties  and  how  little  he  abused  his  un- 
limited power,  let  the  history  of  that  independent  body  of 
Christians  answer.  The  concord  that  reigned  among  its  het- 
erogeneous elements  and  the  harmony  of  its  practical  work- 
ing are  all  tributes  to  and  proofs  of  his  ability,  his  rectitude, 
and  his  conscientious  fidelity  to  Christ  and  the  gospel. 

And  this  concord  between  pastor  and  people,  and  fruitful 
activity  of  both  people  and  preacher,  were  kept  up  to  the  very 
end,  as  appears  from  Dr.  Deems's  report  to  the  monthly  meet- 
ing of  the  church  held  in  December,  1892,  the  month  near 
whose  close  he  was  stricken  down.  That  report  concludes  as 
follows : 

"During  the  year  I  have  delivered  184  discourses,  admin- 
istered the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  1 1  times,  celebrated 
the  rite  of  matrimony  36  times,  baptized  22  persons,  attended 
the  funerals  of  19  persons,  and  paid  652  visits.    During  the 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


266 


year  we  have  added  55  members;  on  confession  of  faith,  40, 
by  letter,  15. 

"  There  have  been  received  into  the  church  during  the  past 
twenty-five  years  1809  persons ;  940  on  confession  of  faith  and 
869  by  letter.  There  have  been  taken  from  the  roll  by  re- 
movals, death,  etc.,  1264.    Total  on  roll  at  close  of  1892,  545. 

"  Affectionately  and  faithfully  your  pastor, 

"  Charles  F.  Deems." 

Early  in  1876,  having  to  go  to  Richmond,  Va.,  to  lecture, 
and  to  Weldon,  N.  C,  to  dedicate  a  church,  he  went  on  farther 
South  to  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Marion  J.  Verdery, 
in  Augusta,  Ga.  This  entry  is  in  his  journal  for  Tuesday,  the 
1 5th  of  February :  "  With  my  dear  daughter  and  her  precious 
babe,  whom  I  now  see  for  the  first  time."  He  remained  in 
Augusta  eight  days,  and  described  the  visit  as  "  a  little  job  of 
dry-nursing."  He  spent  the  most  of  the  time  with  his  new 
grandchild,  who  became  an  endeared  pet. 

On  the  2  2d  he  baptized  his  baby  granddaughter  and  on  the 
23d  started  for  New  York.  Upon  reaching  home  he  found  the 
Moody  and  Sankey  meetings  in  full  operation.  Occasionally 
he  took  part  in  them,  but  he  had  so  much  pastoral  work  that 
he  could  not  be  a  constant  attendant.  His  estimate  of  these 
"  evangelistic  "  exercises,  as  they  were  called,  was  not  quite  so 
high  as  that  of  some  of  the  other  New  York  clergy.  He 
thought  that  in  some  directions  they  did  good  in  stimulating 
the  church-members,  but  that  they  did  very  little  toward  reach- 
ing "  outsiders."  He  also  thought  that  they  had  a  dissipating 
eflfect  upon  the  members  of  the  church,  creating  in  them  rov- 
ing habits  and  making  them  so  used  to  excitement  that  it  re- 
quired a  long  time  after  the  evangelists  left  to  bring  these 
people  into  regular  working  order  in  their  own  churches.  He 
did  not,  however,  feel  himself  at  liberty  to  utter  any  opposi- 
tion to  the  work.    It  might  be  of  God  and  his  judgment  might 


266 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


be  at  fault,  so  he  would  not  oppose  it ;  but  he  never  entered 
into  it  very  heartily. 

Before  Dr.  Deems  went  South  Mr.  Frank  Leslie,  the  well- 
known  publisher  of  a  number  of  periodicals,  had  sent  for  him 
to  consult  him  in  regard  to  the  publication  of  a  "  Sunday 
Magazine  "  somewhat  on  the  basis  of  an  English  periodical 
bearing  that  name,  and  with  such  modifications  as  Dr.  Deems's 
experience  would  give  to  it  in  adapting  it  especially  to  the 
American  religious  public.  At  first  the  proposition  did  not 
strike  the  doctor  as  desirable.  Although  he  saw  in  it  a  vast 
field  of  constantly  increasing  usefulness,  he  was  afraid  that  he 
should  not  be  able  to  sustain  the  magazine  and  discharge  his 
church  duties  in  a  befitting  manner.  Nevertheless  he  con- 
sented to  take  into  consideration  the  proposition  which  Mr. 
Leslie  made. 

He  saw  certain  objections  to  undertaking  this  work,  and 
others  of  more  or  less  weight  were  suggested  to  him.  But,  on 
the  other  hand,  he  saw  so  many  ways  in  which  the  "  Sunday 
Magazine  "  might  be  used  for  the  good  of  men  and  the  glory 
of  God  that  he  finally  concluded  to  take  the  post  of  its  editor, 
but  to  take  it  on  his  own  terms.  These  he  proposed  to  Mr. 
Leslie,  supposing  them  so  stringent  that  that  gentleman  would 
perhaps  retire.  But  he  did  not ;  on  the  contrary,  he  gave  the 
doctor  the  complete  control,  agreed  to  supply  him  all  assis- 
tance needful  to  keep  the  periodical  from  interfering  with  his 
pastoral  work,  and  also  to  improve  the  tone  of  his  issues.  In 
accordance  with  this  the  most  offensive,  because  it  was  the 
most  sensational,  of  Mr.  Leslie's  periodicals  was  drawn  from 
his  list  of  publications  and  suppressed.  Improvements  began 
to  be  made  in  every  department,  and  Dr.  Deems  fell  to  work 
to  prepare  for  the  new  "  Sunday  Magazine,"  which,  owing  to 
several  causes,  did  not  appear  until  the  beginning  of  the  next 
year,  although  the  bargain  had  been  made  on  the  i6th  of 
March,  1876. 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


267 


Commodore  Vanderbilt  had  been  growing  feebler  in  health 
since  the  previous  Thanksgiving  day,  when  he  took  a  cold 
while  riding  in  Central  Park.  He  had  been  only  a  few  times  to 
his  office  after  that  day.  On  the  2  2d  of  April  Dr.  Deems  had 
a  talk  with  the  commodore  in  regard  to  the  founding  of  some 
pubhc  institution  in  this  city,  which  should  be  extended  and 
continued  in  its  beneficence,  and  thus  be  the  consecration  of 
a  portion  of  his  property  to  the  Lord.  The  commodore  re- 
quested Dr.  Deems  to  draw  up  a  plan  for  such  an  institution 
which  should  require  at  least  a  half-million  of  dollars.  With 
his  usual  alertness,  he  at  once  fell  to  work,  thinking  over  the 
plan  on  Saturday  night  and  giving  Monday  and  Tuesday 
to  writing  out  a  rough  draft.  The  commodore  had  been  con- 
fined to  his  house,  but  not  to  his  bed,  for  some  weeks.  On 
Wednesday  morning,  April  26th,  Dr.  Deems  had  his  plan  ready, 
waited  on  his  old  friend  with  it,  and  found  him  in  bed  in  great 
pain  and  not  able  to  consider  anything.  His  heart  fell.  He 
was  afraid  that  it  was  too  late.  As  the  commodore  had  done 
so  handsome  a  thing  for  the  South,  he  was  very  anxious  that 
he  should  do  some  very  great  act  of  beneficence  which  would 
make  his  name  a  precious  savor  also  in  the  North.  Nothing 
seemed  to  Dr.  Deems  so  poetical  and  beautiful  as  that  the 
commodore  should  erect,  on  some  conspicuous  and  happy 
site,  an  institution  to  care  for  those  who  had  become  disabled 
in  railroad  service ;  and  yet  there  seemed  to  him  almost  insur- 
mountable difficulties  in  making  this  a  diffusive  benevolence. 

For  more  than  eight  months  the  commodore  was  confined 
to  his  bed,  and  from  the  26th  of  April,  1876,  to  the  4th  of 
January,  1877,  Dr.  Deems  visited  him  every  day  except  eight. 
Those  eight  days  were  divided  between  three  visits  to  the 
country.  The  commodore  would  not  let  him  leave  his  side, 
often  keeping  him  for  hours.  His  sufferings  were  prodigious, 
and  Dr.  Deems  represented  himself  as  being  often  thrown  into 
profuse  perspiration  by  simply  witnessing  the  agony  of  the  great 


268 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


sufferer.  Through  all  those  months  the  attachment  between 
the  two  men  increased.  The  pastor  was  devoted  to  his 
parishioner,  and  the  parishioner  grew  more  and  more  to  love 
his  pastor.  Sometimes  he  would  send  for  him,  and  when  he 
arrived  would  say  to  him  with  tears,  "  Doctor,  I  have  sent  for 
you  to  tell  you  how  I  love  you."  In  his  funeral  sermon  and 
in  other  publications  Dr.  Deems  has  set  forth  his  estimate  of 
the  character  of  Commodore  Vanderbilt.  The  two  men  had 
the  greatest  possible  regard  for  each  other. 

All  the  summer  long  Dr.  Deems  remained  in  the  city.  He 
had  several  important  engagements  which  he  was  compelled 
to  cancel  because  of  Commodore  Vanderbilt's  illness.  One 
was  to  deliver  an  address  at  Emory  and  Henry  College, 
Virginia,  and  another  to  repeat  his  lecture  on  "  The  Bible  and 
Science  "  at  the  Chautauqua  Assembly  in  the  western  part  of 
New  York.  But  he  had  learned  to  submit  to  what  seemed  to 
be  the  demands  of  Providence. 

Several  times  during  this  season  it  was  supposed  that  Com- 
modore Vanderbilt  would  die,  and  yet  he  rallied  marvelously. 
Just  after  one  of  these  spells  he  insisted  that  Dr.  Deems 
should  go  to  the  Centennial  Exposition,  which  he  did,  spend- 
ing parts  of  three  days  in  Philadelphia  at  the  great  exposition 
in  company  with  Mrs.  Deems  and  a  few  friends. 

On  the  2 2d  of  October  Dr.  Deems  was  one  of  the  pall- 
bearers at  the  funeral  of  his  old  preceptor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dur- 
bin,  to  whom  he  was  much  attached,  and  of  whom  he  has 
spoken  in  his  autobiographical  sketch  as  one  of  his  teachers  at 
Dickinson  College. 

On  the  I  St  of  December  he  took  part  in  the  third  anniver- 
sary of  the  First  Reformed  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Sabine  was  pastor.  He  had  always  taken  a  great 
interest  in  this  new  ecclesiastical  movement,  because  he  rec- 
ollected that  he  would  have  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church  but  for  the  dogma  of  apostolic  sue- 


PASTOR  AND  AUTHOR 


269 


cession.  He  was  also  interested  in  it  because  it  had  been  set 
on  foot  by  Bishop  George  D.  Cummins,  who  had  been  his  col- 
lege-mate and  personal  friend  through  many  years. 

On  the  4th  of  December  he  made  this  record  in  his  journal : 
"  Entered  upon  my  fifty-seventh  year."  He  was  not  given  to 
recording  sentimental  reflections.  He  closed  one  year  of  his 
life  and  entered  upon  another  with  as  much  cheerfulness  as 
though  there  were  no  end  to  life,  and  with  such  elasticity  as  if 
he  had  but  one  more  year  to  work. 


CHAPTER  XI 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY,  1877-79 

"  Oh,  to  be  ready,  ready, 

Yielding  my  Saviour  my  all, 
And  waiting  with  loving  patience 

For  the  Master's  gracious  call! 
Soothing  the  poor  in  their  sorrow, 

Helping  the  rich  in  their  woe, 
Seeking  to  find  new  treasures 

On  suffering  saints  to  bestow. 

"  Oh,  to  be  ready,  ready. 

Hidden  from  every  delight, 
And  hearing  no  voices  of  praises. 

While  toiling  alone  in  the  night! 
Lonely,  unmourned,  and  forsaken. 

And  cast  from  the  hearts  of  all  men, 
Walking  the  fiery  furnace 

Or  sleeping  with  beasts  in  their  den. 

"  Oh,  to  be  ready,  ready, 

Following  the  lead  of  my  Lord, 
While  armed  with  salvation's  helmet 

And  the  Spirit's  flaming  sword! 
Meeting  the  foe  with  high  courage 

And  fighting  the  good  fight  of  faith ; 
Shouting  in  triumph  while  dying, 

And  soaring  to  life  out  of  death." 

A GREAT  snow  wrapped  the  city  in  a  thick  white  mantle 
on  January  i,  1877.    From  his  journal  we  learn  that  on 
this  date  Dr.  Deems  received  visitors  most  of  the  day,  and  that 
270 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY  271 

he  also  "composed  the  hymn,  'Oh,  to  be  ready!'"  He  ap- 
pears to  have  felt  the  chill  of  death  in  the  air. 

From  His  Journal 

"  January  4th.  Commodore  Vanderbilt  died  this  morning 
at  10:51." 

"January  7th,  Sunday.  Commodore  Vanderbilt's  obsequies 
at  the  Church  of  the  Strangers." 

"January  8th.    Oh,  how  lonely  without  the  commodore!" 

On  the  day  of  Commodore  Vanderbilt's  death  Dr.  Deems 
reached  the  bedside  of  his  dying  friend  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  where  he  found  gathered  the  family  and  four  physi- 
cians, and  where  he  remained  until  the  end.  The  commodore 
to  the  last  was  conscious  and  spoke  to  his  loved  ones  calm 
words  of  parting.  His  wife's  sister,  Mrs.  Robert  L.  Crawford, 
led  the  little  group  in  singing  his  favorite  hymns,  "  Nearer, 
my  God,  to  thee,"  "Show  pity.  Lord,"  and  "Come,  ye  sin- 
ners, poor  and  needy."  With  a  bright  countenance  falteringly 
he  joined  in  the  singing.  He  asked  Dr.  Deems  to  pray,  and 
tried  to  follow  the  prayer  and  repeat  the  benediction.  At  the 
close  of  the  prayer  he  took  Dr.  Deems's  hand  and  said,  "  That's 
a  good  prayer.  I  shall  never  give  up  trust  in  Jesus;  how 
could  I  let  that  go!"  At  10:51  a.m.,  peacefully  and  appa- 
rently painlessly,  the  commodore  fell  asleep. 

Sunday  morning,  January  7th,  Dr.  Deems  conducted  the 
funeral  services  for  his  faithful  friend  at  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers,  whose  capacity  was  unequal  to  holding  the  mul- 
titudes who  sought  entrance.  In  accordance  with  the  ex- 
pressed wishes  of  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  these  services  were  marked 
by  simplicity. 

In  the  funeral  address  Dr.  Deems  said,  among  other  things  : 
"  My  brethren,  it  would  seem  to  be  a  happy  thing  that  the 


272 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


custom  of  the  pastor  of  this  church  at  funerals  should  be  in 
such  perfect  accord  with  the  explicit  wishes  of  our  deceased 
friend.  It  is  almost  never  appropriate  to  speak  about  a  dead 
man  at  his  obsequies.  No  man  would  desire  to  allude  to  any 
of  his  human  frailties  and  faults,  and  no  man  can  make  the 
dead  man's  friends  love  him  more  than  they  do  when  they 
surround  his  remains.  And  so  when  he  charged  that  at  his 
funeral  not  many  words  should  be  said,  and  that  those  words 
should  be  said  deliberately,  and  that  there  should  be  no  at- 
tempt to  set  forth  any  supposed  virtue  he  might  possess,  the 
request  was  in  accordance  with  my  own  feelings.  .  .  . 

"  I  think  it  will  be  a  soft  pillow  for  my  dying  hour  that  I 
have  one  remembrance— which  I  may  venture  to  state  even 
here — of  our  beloved  friend.  One  day  he  took  my  hand  and 
looked  me  in  the  face ;  the  tears  started  to  his  eyes  and  he 
said,  '  Dear  doctor,  you  never  crowded  your  religion  on  me, 
but  you  have  been  faithful  to  me.'  '  Yes,'  I  said,  '  commo- 
dore, I  have  held  back  nothing  of  the  counsel  of  God  which 
I  thought  needful  to  say  to  you  for  your  salvation.'  And 
shall  I  here,  in  the  presence  of  this  people  and  in  the  presence 
of  his  precious  remains,  fail  to  be  faithful  to  his  memory  and 
to  you?  What  gave  him  his  comfort  at  last?  That  there  was 
not  a  civilized  nation  on  the  face  of  the  earth  that  did  not 
know  his  name?  That  there  was  not  a  king  or  an  emperor  or 
other  ruler  of  men  upon  earth  that  did  not  know  his  name? 
That  the  luster  of  his  deeds  shone  like  sunlight  among  the  na- 
tions? What  gave  him  his  comfort  at  the  last?  That  he  could 
count  up  miUions  to  be  left  to  his  children?  No!  It  was 
this :  that  Jesus  Christ,  by  the  grace  of  God,  had  tasted  death 
for  him  ;  that  there  was  in  the  Godhead  not  simply  his  Creator, 
but  his  Redeemer,  and  that,  coming  as  a  little  child,  he  could 
lay  his  head  in  the  lap  of  Jesus  and  feel  that  he  had  a  Saviour 
there.  .  .  . 

"  There  were  two  things  our  beloved  friend  lacked.  One 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY 


273 


was  the  advantages  of  early  scholastic  culture ;  another  was 
intimate  religious  associations  through  his  middle  life  and  the 
main  part  of  his  career ;  and  those  two  wants  of  his  life,  as  he 
has  solemnly  said  to  me,  were  the  only  great  regrets  he  had. 
But  remember  that,  while  Cornelius  Vanderbilt  had  not  the 
advantages  of  the  schools,  that  great  lack  was  compensated 
for  in  a  large  measure  by  the  extraordinary  intellectual  endow- 
ments with  which  God  had  gifted  him.  And  then,  and  above 
all,  remember  this :  that  what  saved  him  was  the  fact  that 
never  in  any  part  of  his  life  did  he  for  one  single  instant  doubt 
that  this  sacred  Book  was  the  Word  of  God  and  the  rule  of 
faith  and  practice.  That  was  his  sheet-anchor,  and  his  love 
for  his  mother  was  his  sheet-cable.  I  must  now  say  what  he 
charged  me  to  say  if  ever  I  spoke  of  him  in  public :  '  Say  to 
all  men  that  you  did  not  have  the  sHghtest  influence  in  the 
world  in  persuading  me  to  believe  in  the  Bible  ;  that  you  could 
not,  nor  all  the  angels  or  ministers ;  for  I  have  never  had  a 
minute  when  I  did  not  believe  it  was  the  Word  of  God,  whether 
I  kept  it  or  not.'  Have  you  that  faith?  If  he  had  gone 
through  life  without  that  faith  and  come  to  this  great  battle, 
this  eight  months'  campaign,  fighting  for  hfe, — fighting  on  the 
outskirts,  fighting  in  the  intrenchments,  fighting  in  the  citadel 
to  the  last, — if  he  had  come  without  that  wonderful  faith  in 
the  Word  of  God,  who  could  have  helped  him?  ,  .  . 

"  If  one  grain  of  love  is  worth  ten  thousand  tons  of  admira- 
tion, then  Cornelius  "Vanderbilt  died  rich.  This  I  say  as  one 
who,  with  the  solicitude  of  a  pastor  and  a  friend,  watched  all 
his  spiritual  motions  through  the  last  year  of  his  life,  and  say 
it  as  if  he  were  alive  and  that  lid  were  open  and  he  had  those 
eagle  eyes  turned  on  me :  I  will  say  I  believe  that  this  man  at 
the  last  had  true  repentance  toward  God,  had  simple,  child- 
like faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  his  personal  and  divine 
Saviour,  and  did  yield  himself  to  the  operations  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  and  that,  having  thus  yielded,  and  in  such  repentance, 


274 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


in  such  faith,  and  in  such  submission  died,  we  may  confidently 
trust  that  he  who  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost  did  fulfil  his 
promises  to  our  beloved  friend,  and  that  he  is  numbered  with 
the  saints  in  glory  everlasting.  Let  us  not  attach  undue  value 
to  the  things  of  this  world,  but  let  us  not  underrate  ourselves. 
That  man  lying  there  never  owned  one  single  dime ;  he  never 
possessed  one  single  foot  of  ground  in  his  own  right.  He  was 
bound  to  hold  these  things  as  a  steward  of  God.  That  is  the 
state  of  the  case  with  us,  and  we  must  give  an  account  at  the 
last,  as  he  has  gone  to  render  his  account  of  his  stewardship, 
to  the  only  One  who  has  a  right  to  judge  him,  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord."  * 

Shadowed  though  its  opening  was  for  Dr.  Deems,  the  year 
1877  was  one  full  of  labors  in  the  pulpit,  the  pastorate,  on  the 
platform,  and  in  the  editor's  chair  as  he  wrought  on  the  "  Sun- 
day Magazine."  Not  the  least  interesting  experiences  of  the 
year  were  his  visits  to  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at 
Chapel  Hill,  and  Randolph-Macon  College,  at  Boydton,  Va. 
These  visits  occurred  in  June.  At  the  former  he  preached  the 
baccalaureate  sermon,  on  Acts  xxvi.  25,  while  at  the  latter  he 
delivered  the  annual  address  before  the  two  literary  societies. 
On  Thursday,  June  7th,  the  University  of  North  Carolina 
conferred  on  Dr.  Deems  the  honorary  degree  of  LL.D.,  which 
he  not  unsuccessfully  strove  to  wear  with  becoming  grace  and 
dignity. 

Frotn  His  Journal 

"September  26th.  Mrs.  Deems  finished  reading  'Macau- 
lay's  Life  '  after  prayer-meeting.  What  a  fortunate  and  superb 
career!  He  died  only  two  years  older  than  I  am  now.  How 
much  more  work  of  a  certain  kind  he  accomplished!  Such 

*  The  whole  of  this  address  and  Dr.  Deems's  prayer  on  this  occasion 
may  be  found  in  the  "  Metropulitan  Pulpit,"  vol.  i.,  p.  65  (New  York: 
Funk  &  \V agnails  Co.). 


INCREASIXG  ACTIVITY 


275 


men  make  the  rest  of  us  seem  small.  It  is  so  sad  to  close  such  a 
book ;  we  came  to  feel  as  if  the  man  were  our  personal  friend." 

"  October  23d.  Went  to  Asbury,  N.  J.  Had  not  been  there 
for  thirty-two  years.  Married  there.  Mrs.  Deems  with  me. 
Stayed  with  Mr.  McEIrath,  who  had  been  Horace  Greeley's 
partner." 

A  Letter  from  Dr.  Deems 
"nolo  episcopari 

"New  York,  February  14,  1878. 

"  Fei>.  J.  J.  Lafferty. 

"  Dear  Brother  :  In  the  '  Richmond  Christian  Advocate  ' 
I  see  that  Judge  Simmons  has  mentioned  my  name  in  the 
'  Central  Methodist '  among  the  names  of  three  persons  who 
might,  in  his  opinion,  be  elected  bishops  by  the  next  General 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  It  is  a 
gratifying  compliment  to  be  mentioned  in  such  a  connection, 
but,  of  course,  I  am  out  of  the  question.  The  providence  of 
God  seems  to  have  assigned  me  my  diocese.  It  fills  my  hands 
and  head  and  heart  and  time.  It  is  one  in  which  I  have 
probably  been  able  to  do  more  for  all  branches  of  the  church 
than  if  I  had  been  a  bishop  in  any  one  of  them.  The  Southern 
Methodist  Church  has  been  singularly  happy  in  the  choice  of 
its  chief  pastors,  all  of  whom  are  my  personal  friends ;  and  I 
trust  that  grace  may  be  vouchsafed  to  save  the  General  Con- 
ference from  ever  electing  any  man  who,  for  selfish  reasons, 
desires  and  seeks  the  office. 

"  Affectionately  and  faithfully  yours, 

"  Charles  F.  Deems." 

From  His  Autobiographical  Notes  for  1878 

"  In  February  of  this  year  I  had  a  visit  from  Bishop  Pierce, 
of  Georgia,  who  had  been  invited  to  preach  a  sermon  on  the 


276 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


anniversary  of  the  leading  Methodist  church  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
in  whose  dedication  he  had  taken  part  many  years  ago.  I 
invited  him  to  come  to  New  York  and  remain  with  us  as  long 
as  agreeable  to  himself.  His  health  was  poor.  My  family 
became  very  much  attached  to  him. 

"  On  the  6th  of  March  I  took  recess  from  labor  and  went 
South  with  Mrs.  Deems.  We  stopped  in  Baltimore  and  were 
the  guests  of  our  beloved  cousin,  Mrs.  Martha  A.  Flack.  The 
Baltimore  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  was  in  session.  On  Thursday  I  addressed  the  con- 
ference, and  on  Sunday,  by  the  request  of  Bishop  McTyeire, 
I  preached  the  sermon  at  the  ordination  of  the  elders  and  as- 
sisted the  bishop  in  the  ordination  of  the  deacons.  Three  days 
of  the  succeeding  week  were  spent  amid  the  hospitalities  of 
our  excellent  friends,  the  Faisons,  in  North  Carolina,  and  on 
Saturday,  the  1 6th,  we  reached  Charleston.  Arriving  early  in 
the  morning  we  found  Bishop  Wightman  awaiting  us.  He 
had  written  insisting  that  I  should  be  his  guest.  We  remained 
until  the  following  Tuesday,  and  by  special  request  I  preached 
in  the  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  We  were  very 
much  interested  in  Charleston,  and  this  was  the  first  visit  my 
wife  had  ever  made  to  this  noble  old  city.  Bishop  Wightman 
and  Mr.  George  W.  Williams  and  their  wives  were  indefati- 
gable in  showing  us  attentions.  I  was  particularly  interested 
in  the  orphanage,  in  the  Home  for  Confederate  Widows,  and 
in  the  seminary  for  young  ladies,  of  which  Miss  Kelly  was 
principal. 

"  From  Charleston  we  went  to  Florida,  spending  most  of 
the  time  in  St.  Augustine,  where  we  met  our  dear  friend,  Mrs. 
Noble.  There  is  not  much  to  record  of  this  quiet  old  town, 
which  I  had  visited  before.  It  is  a  most  attractive  place  to 
me.  It  would  be  delightful  if  I  could  live  there  all  winter. 
I  have  very  litde  to  record  of  this  visitation.  We  went  on 
the  water  and  to  all  the  surrounding  places  of  interest,  and 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY 


211 


filled  up  our  leisure  time  with  Miss  Phelps's  new  book,  '  Avis,' 
which  I  exceedingly  disliked  on  account  of  its  morale. 

"  After  St.  Augustine  we  made  the  tour  of  the  Oklawaha, 
whose  wonderfully  weird  scenery  by  night  was  quite  a  novel 
enchantment.  We  had  the  misfortune  to  come  upon  the  Silver 
Spring  in  a  shower  of  rain ;  but  nevertheless  it  was  a  very  in- 
teresting sight.  On  the  6th  of  April,  on  our  return,  we  reached 
Augusta,  where,  with  our  daughter,  her  husband,  and  her  pre- 
cious babe,  we  spent  more  than  a  week — a  delightful  week,  in 
which  the  babe  grew  more  and  more  into  my  heart. 

"  On  the  1 8th  of  April  we  reached  New  York,  having  spent 
a  day  with  our  friends  in  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  On  this  trip  I  had 
preached  in  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Church  in  Baltimore,  in 
Trinity  Methodist  Church  in  Charleston,  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  St.  Augustine,  and  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
and  St.  John's  Methodist  Church  in  Augusta.  This  Southern 
trip,  which  I  took  for  rest  and  to  relieve  me  from  the  great 
pressure  of  my  work,  did  not  prove  very  helpful  to  me.  It 
seemed  to  develop  the  rheumatism,  which  I  suppose  I  inherit 
from  my  father.  I  had  occasional  slight  visitations  of  this 
malady  up  to  June,  when  I  went  to  Emory  and  Henry  College 
to  deliver  the  address  before  the  two  literary  societies.  On 
my  way  thither  my  suffering  increased.  I  suffered  very  gready 
while  there,  but  was  very  much  interested  in  the  college  and 
enjoyed  the  kind  attention  of  President  Wiley. 

"  On  my  way  I  stopped  a  day  in  Lynchburg  especially  to 
see  my  old  friend,  the  Rev.  John  Bayley,  who  had  been  the 
minister  in  Randolph-Macon  circuit  when  I  was  professor  in 
college.  I  was  interested  also  in  seeing  this  beautiful  country 
in  a  visit  to  Abingdon,  where  the  Martha  Washington  College 
is  situated,  and  to  Saltville  and  Glade  Springs,  where  I  received 
the  kindest  attentions.  I  bore  up  under  my  pain  until  I  could 
reach  home,  but  the  strain  upon  me  and  the  effort  in  preach- 
ing two  sermons  upon  my  return  prostrated  me,  and  during 


278 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


the  succeeding  week  I  gave  up  and  was  under  medical  treat- 
ment. Nevertheless  on  the  following  Sunday  I  was  at  my 
post,  and  although  suffering  more  or  less  during  the  summer 
I  fulfilled  all  my  public  duties,  among  them  a  sermon  and  an 
address  before  the  great  Chautauqua  Assembly. 

"  In  the  summer  of  this  year  I  received  a  letter  inviting  me 
to  become  a  member  of  the  Victoria  Institute,  which  is  the 
philosophical  society  of  Great  Britain,  of  which  the  Earl  of 
Shaftesbury  is  president.  Nothing  else  of  special  note  occurred 
until  the  i8th  of  December,  when  I  united  my  son.  Dr.  Frank 
M.  Deems,  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Grace  Brotherton,  by 
which  I  believe  he  got  from  the  Lord  a  good  wife  and  I  an 
excellent  daughter.  The  year  of  the  church  closed  in  great 
peace  and  harmony.  All  our  financial  obligations  were  met, 
an  admirable  board  of  officers  was  elected,  and  while,  owing 
to  the  fluctuation  of  the  New  York  population,  many  had  left 
us,  we  closed  the  year  with  more  upon  our  roll  than  we  had 
when  we  began." 

Dr.  Deems's  pulpit  and  pastoral  work  and  his  editorial  labors 
on  the  "  Sunday  Magazine  "  were  the  objects  of  unremitting 
attention  and  faithful  efforts  throughout  the  year  1879.  The 
only  recreation  he  indulged  in,  if  recreation  it  may  be  called, 
consisted  in  several  visits  to  various  parts  of  the  land  to  preach, 
lecture,  or  make  addresses. 

The  fact  that  he  did  not  break  down  under  labors  to  which 
an  apparently  stronger  man  would  have  succumbed  was  due 
largely  to  his  talent  for  sleep  and  his  observance  of  Saturday 
as  his  physical  Sabbath. 

In  an  article  in  the  "  Homiletic  Review  "  for  October,  1 889, 
while  giving  his  views  on  the  subject  of  "  Ministers  Breaking 
Down  in  Health,"  Dr.  Deems  wrote : 

"  I  have  pretty  strictly  observed  the  Sabbath  law  during  the 
last  score  of  years,  namely,  of  sequestering  one  day,  Saturday, 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY 


279 


in  each  week  from  all  kinds  of  professional  business,  making 
it  a  day  on  which  on  no  account  would  I  read  a  sermon,  a 
treatise  on  theology,  or  anything  that  has  to  do  with  my  pro- 
fession— a  day  in  which  I  sleep,  bathe,  doze,  browse,  and  do 
nothing  in  the  most  promiscuous  manner. 

"  Some  pastors  may  believe  in  touching  up  their  sermon  on 
Saturday  in  order  to  be  ready  for  the  next  day's  service. 
When  I  go  to  bed  on  Saturday  night,  I  do  not  know  what  I 
am  to  preach  about  the  next  day ;  I  have  clean  forgot- 
ten. But  on  this  Thursday  afternoon  in  which  I  am  being 
interviewed  both  my  sermons  are  in  a  drawer  of  my  desk 
as  ready  as  I  can  make  them  for  my  use  next  Sunday 
morning. 

"  When  I  come  in  on  Saturday  evening  [after  a  Russian 
bath  and  a  meeting  of  the  genial  Philothean  Club  of  minis- 
ters.—  Eds.]  my  wife  reads  to  me  until  bedtime,  and  ordinarily 
the  reading  of  that  evening  consists  of  stories.  Among  men 
I  prefer  Walter  Scott  as  a  pure  and  unadulterated  story-teller ; 
among  women,  on  the  other  side  George  Eliot,  and  upon  this 
side  Amelia  Barr." 

In  February,  1879,  he  keenly  enjoyed  a  visit  to  Boston  and 
its  vicinity,  where  he  had  been  invited  to  deliver  one  of  the 
addresses  at  one  of  Joseph  Cook's  famous  conversations,  and 
where  he  met  many  charming  people.  The  entry  in  his  diary 
for  February  12th  reads:  "Went  with  A.  Bronson  Alcott  to 
Concord.  Paid  a  visit  to  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  ;  to  the  li- 
brary ;  to  '  Sleepy  Hollow ' ;  to  Hawthorne's  and  Thoreau's 
graves.  Back  to  Boston.  Heard  Phillips  Brooks ;  had  an  in- 
ter\'iew  with  him  after  service." 

On  June  2  2d  of  this  year  Dr.  Deems  preached  the  univer- 
sity sermon  at  Union  College.  From  Schenectady,  passing 
through  New  York,  he  went  to  Carlisle,  Pa.,  to  attend  the 
commencement  of  his  alma  mater,  Dickinson  College,  where 
he  made  an  address  before  the  literary  societies  and  delivered 


280 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


the  alumni  oration,  of  which  the  following  account  appeared 
in  the  Harrisburg  "  Patriot " : 

"  Carlisle,  June  25th. 
"  The  trustees,  alumni,  and  the  literary  societies  have  all  had 
their  respective  meetings  to-day.  This  evening  the  Rev.  Charles 
F.  Deems,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  New 
York  City,  delivered  the  alumni  oration.  He  called  it  '  Forty 
Years  Ago.' 

"  The  speaker  began  by  a  description  of  affairs  at  Dickin- 
son College  forty  years  ago,  when  his  class  was  graduated. 
He  characterized  the  faculty— President  Durbin,  Professor 
Caldwell,  Dr.  John  McClintock,  the  Rev.  Robert  Emory,  and 
Professor  Allen,  now  president  of  Girard  College.  He  re- 
viewed the  class  of  '39,  giving  what  he  knew  of  the  history 
of  its  members,  and  complimenting  the  Rev.  Dr.  Crooks  and 
the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Vernon  Moore.  The  condition  of 
Carlisle  and  of  the  State  was  then  spoken  of.  Joe  Ritner 
was  then  governor  and  had  just  vetoed  a  railroad  bill.  In 
connection  with  this  fact  the  story  of  Slaymaker's  bull  was  told. 
On  a  railway  line  then  recently  opened  lived  a  gentleman 
named  Slaymaker.  His  bull  heard  the  oncoming  train,  and 
planting  himself  on  the  track,  pawing,  bellowing,  and  prepar- 
ing to  gore  the  new  and  terrible  comer,  he  struck  the  engine, 
which  was  not  going  at  a  killing  rate,  but  returned  the  attack 
with  enough  force  to  throw  the  bull  over  the  fence.  Three 
successive  days  this  was  done,  when  the  bull  gave  up  the 
contest  in  final  discouragement.  At  a  public  meeting  soon 
after,  this  toast  was  given :  '  Here's  to  Joe  Ritner  and  Slay- 
maker's  bull — both  opposed  to  railroads.' 

"  The  general  condition  of  the  country,  the  slavery  discus- 
sion, and  the  financial  distress  were  described.  From  college 
life  Dr.  Deems  passed  on  to  note  the  state  of  things  in  New 
York  City  at  the  time.    He  described  the  city  as  he  saw  it 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY 


281 


then,  the  principal  ministers,  and  the  excitement  of  the  Meth- 
odists over  their  centenary.  The  newspapers  were  talked  of, 
and  sketches  were  given  of  Bryant,  Francis  Hall,  Willis,  and 
Gaylord  Clark.  Some  interesting  reminiscences  were  furnished 
of  what  was  then  in  the  daily  papers.  For  instance,  the  '  Com- 
mercial Advertiser'  of  June  22,  1839,  had  in  it  a  letter  from 
Boston  dated  four  days  before,  signed  '  H.  G.,'  a  signature 
which  afterward  became  of  world-wide  fame.  In  the  '  Even- 
ing Post '  of  the  24th  of  June  the  latest  English  news  was 
dated  May  20th,  and  five  steamships  were  announced  to  sail 
for  Europe  during  that  whole  year.  On  the  28th  the  same 
paper  glorified  an  '  expeditious  passage  to  Buffalo,'  which  was 
described  in  detail  by  river,  rail,  canal,  and  steamboat,  and  was 
triumphantly  announced  as  occupying  only  two  days  and  three 
nights  for  the  '  immense  journey.' 

"Some  notable  occurrences  of  the  year  1839  were  then  re- 
viewed. Daguerre  had  just  announced  to  the  world  the  pro- 
cess of  taking  pictures.  The  Queen  of  England  had  courted 
and  married  Prince  Albert.  Penny  postage  was  proposed  in 
Great  Britain  while  a  boy  at  an  American  college  was  paying 
a  quarter  of  a  dollar  for  every  letter  he  sent  to  his  sweet- 
heart. 

"  Dr.  Deems,  it  is  well  known,  is  a  Southerner,  and  was  in 
the  Confederacy  during  the  whole  of  the  late  unpleasantness. 
What  he  said  on  that  subject  may  be  worth  recording  in  full. 
He  said : 

" '  Almost  midway  across  the  path  of  forty  years  fell  the 
gigantic  shadow  of  the  Civil  War.  Men  from  this  college 
fought  on  both  sides.  It  would  not  be  wise  at  this  time  to 
say  anything  which  could  quicken  any  root  of  bitterness  not 
yet  thoroughly  dead.  Yet  scholarly  men,  when  nearly  a  score 
of  years  have  passed  away,  ought  to  be  able  to  talk  of  such 
far-off  events  with  rational  dispassionateness ;  and  I  think  you 
will  concede  that  it  would  not  be  an  unreasonable  claim  upon 


282 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


my  part  if  I  should  suppose  myself  capable  of  making  fair 
judgments  in  the  premises. 

"  '  If  to  me  were  committed  the  task  of  instructing  the  muse 
of  history  how  to  set  forth  the  relative  position  of  the  parties 
in  that  unhappy  conflict  which  tore  our  country,  I  should  put 
the  statement  thus :  the  North  loved  the  Union  and  constitu- 
tional liberty ;  the  South  loved  constitutional  liberty  and  the 
Union.  The  North  saw  no  way  to  preserve  liberty  except  by 
the  maintenance  of  the  Union,  and  would  not  allow  its  regard 
for  the  Constitution  to  stand  in  the  way  of  the  Union;  the 
South  saw  no  way  of  maintaining  constitutional  hberty  inside 
the  Union,  and  would  not  let  its  regard  for  the  Union  stand 
in  the  way  of  constitutional  liberty.  If  any  at  the  South  sup- 
posed that  the  Northern  people  were  willing  to  infringe  the 
Constitution  wantonly  they  did  the  North  a  grievous  wrong. 
It  lacerated  the  hearts  of  many  noble  men  in  the  North  when 
the  conviction  was  forced  upon  them  that  it  was  expedient  for 
a  season  to  put  the  Constitution  in  abeyance  for  the  sake  of 
the  vast  ulterior  good  which  should  come  from  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union.  If  any  at  the  North  supposed  that  the 
Southern  people  had  no  love  for  the  Union  they  did  the  South 
a  grievous  wrong.  Thousands  of  Southerners  stood  by  and 
saw  the  spade  that  turned  up  the  first  sod  to  begin  a  grave  for 
the  Union,  and  wept  heartbrokenly  such  bitter,  manly  tears  as 
a  man  might  weep  who  stands  by  the  tomb  that  opens  to  re- 
ceive a  cherished  child  whom  he  had  given  up  to  death  rather 
than  dishonor. 

"  '  When  the  conflict  began  the  pertinacity  of  the  South  nat- 
urally intensified  the  love  for  the  Union  at  the  North,  while 
the  pertinacity  of  the  North  decreased  the  regard  for  the 
Union  at  the  South.  From  the  history  of  the  times  might  be 
brought  abundant  testimony  to  confirm  these  statements.  No 
more  conspicuous  and  honest  representative  of  the  North 
existed  during  the  war  than  Abraham  Lincoln ;  and  this  is  the 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY 


283 


text  of  a  telegram  of  the  22d  of  August,  1862,  sent  by  him  to 
Horace  Greeley :  "  If  there  be  those  who  would  not  save  the 
Union  unless  they  could  at  the  same  time  save  slavery,  I  do 
not  agree  with  them.  If  there  be  those  who  would  not  save 
the  Union  unless  they  could  at  the  same  time  destroy  slavery, 
I  do  not  agree  with  them.  My  paramount  object  is  to  save 
the  Union,  and  not  either  to  save  or  to  destroy  slavery.  If  I 
could  save  the  Union  without  freeing  a  slave,  I  would  do  it, 
and  if  I  could  save  it  by  freeing  some  and  leaving  others 
alone,  I  would  also  do  that.  What  I  do  about  slavery  and 
the  colored  race,  I  do  because  I  believe  it  helps  to  save  the 
Union ;  and  what  I  forbear,  I  forbear  because  I  do  not  believe 
it  would  help  to  save  the  Union.  I  shall  do  less  whenever  I 
shall  believe  what  I  am  doing  hurts  the  cause,  and  I  shall  do 
more  whenever  I  believe  doing  more  will  help  the  cause." 

"  '  This  is  a  perspicuous,  exhaustive,  and  manly  utterance, 
and  I  suppose  may  be  taken  to  represent  the  sentiment  of  the 
Northern  mind.  On  the  other  side,  Robert  E.  Lee  thus  wrote 
his  sisters  in  April,  1861  :  "The  whole  South  is  in  a  state  of 
revolution,  into  which  Virginia,  after  a  long  struggle,  has  been 
drawn ;  and  though  I  recognize  no  necessity  for  this  state  of 
things,  and  would  have  forborne  and  pleaded  to  the  end  for 
redress  of  grievances,  real  or  supposed,  yet  in  my  own  person 
I  had  to  meet  the  question  whether  I  should  take  part  against 
my  native  State.  With  all  my  devotion  to  the  Union  and  the 
feelings  of  loyalty  and  duty  of  an  American  citizen,  I  have 
not  been  able  to  make  up  my  mind  to  raise  my  hand  against 
my  relatives,  my  children,  my  home.  I  have  therefore  resigned 
my  commission  in  the  army,  and,  save  in  defense  of  my  native 
State,  with  the  sincere  hope  that  my  poor  services  may  never  be 
needed.  I  hope  I  may  never  be  called  on  to  draw  my  sword." 

" '  The  bitterest  thing  for  the  whole  country,  in  the  dread 
series  of  horrors  which  marked  our  Civil  War,  was  the  assas- 
sination of  Abraham  Lincoln.    Will  a  personal  reminiscence 


284 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


be  admissible?  I  shall  never  forget  the  day  of  the  terrible 
tidings.  General  Joe  Johnston  had  been  falling  back  before 
the  advancing  columns  of  Sherman.  I  had  left  a  portion  of 
my  family  in  Raleigh,  N.  C,  in  the  house  of  my  friend,  the 
Hon.  D.  M.  Barringer,  and  had  gone  on  to  Greensboro,  hav- 
ing been  formerly  president  of  a  college  there.  Negotiations 
were  being  pushed  between  Generals  Sherman  and  Johnston, 
and  hourly  consultations  were  taking  place  between  gentlemen 
collected  in  the  town  by  the  exigencies  of  the  war.  Two  of 
the  best  friends  I  ever  had  were  Governor  Morehead  and  the 
Hon.  John  A.  Gilmer,  member  of  Congress  from  that  district. 
The  latter  was  one  of  the  most  intense  lovers  of  the  Union 
that  the  country  ever  produced.  It  is  said  that  in  his  inter- 
views with  President  Lincoln  before  the  secession  of  North 
Carolina  the  presentation  of  his  views  would  often  be  accom- 
panied with  tears.  These  two  gentlemen  walked  with  me  to- 
ward the  railway,  and  while  we  were  conversing  an  aid,  I 
think,  of  General  Johnston  brought  the  intelligence  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  been  assassinated.  Not  one  of  us  could  beheve 
that  such  an  atrocity  had  occurred,  and  I  remember  that  I 
openly  disavowed  my  belief  in  the  statement ;  and  when  asked 
by  my  friends  how  I  could  account  for  the  origin  of  such  a 
rumor,  I  presented  the  view  that  some  of  the  Federal  troops, 
desiring  to  break  through  military  restraint,  had  started  the 
story  in  order  to  excuse  the  perpetration  of  outrages  which 
they  desired  to  commit  and  which,  I  feared,  General  Sherman 
could  not  restrain.*  I  am  satisfied  that  the  most  trustworthy 
Southern  men  do  believe  that  the  loss  of  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one 
of  the  greatest  disasters  that  ever  befell  the  South  and  the 
whole  country.' 

"  Yxom  this  sad  theme  the  speaker  passed  on  to  speak  of 

*  This  was  his  view  immediately  upon  hearing  the  news,  hut  we  learn 
from  his  journal  that  he  was  among  the  first  to  accept  the  tidings  as  "  true 
and  dreadful." 


lA'CREASIXG  ACTIVITY 


285 


the  religious  movements  of  that  era:  the  revival  in  1858, 
which  began  to  lead  to  the  present  unity  of  the  churches  in 
Christian  work,  the  rise  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  the  in- 
crease of  fraternity,  and  the  inception  of  the  Reformed  Epis- 
copal Church  under  the  leadership  of  Bishop  Cummins,  the 
speaker's  old  college-mate. 

"  Dr.  Deems  concluded  by  reviewing  hastily  the  additions 
that  had  been  made  to  human  knowledge  and  comfort  by  the 
inventions  and  discoveries  of  the  past  forty  years.  In  '39  there 
were  no  railways  to  speak  of,  no  gas-works,  no  telegraphic 
communication,  except  between  Baltimore  and  Washington, 
no  grain  elevators,  no  street-cars,  no  sleeping-cars,  no  photo- 
graphs, no  celluloid  collars  and  cufTs.  What  may  we  not  expect 
forty  years  hence?  " 

In  August,  1879,  by  invitation,  he  went  to  Kentucky  to 
attend,  near  Paris,  the  Deering  camp-meeting,  and  to  preach. 
On  this  occasion  he  was  made  happy  not  only  by  making  many 
new  friends,  but  also  by  reunions  with  such  old  friends  as  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Taylor,  of  Covington,  Mr.  Hiram  Shaw,  of 
Lexington,  who  had  been  his  traveling  companion  in  Europe 
in  i860,  and  the  genial  Bishop  Kavanaugh. 

But  Dr.  Deems  was  at  this  period  overtaxing  his  physical 
and  mental  powers  of  endurance,  and  began  to  suffer  accord- 
ingly. He  therefore  decided  to  give  up  his  work  on  the 
"  Sunday  Magazine,"  which  he  did,  resigning  the  editorship 
September  ist.  Moreover,  he  was  persuaded  to  lay  aside  his 
work  for  several  months  and  go  abroad  for  rest. 

Before  starting  on  his  long  journey,  at  the  suggestion  of  his 
people  he  heartily  gave  his  attention  to  placing  in  the  Church 
of  the  Strangers  a  bronze  tablet  as  a  grateful  memorial  of  the 
late  Cornelius  Vanderbilt.  The  expense  of  this  tablet  was  paid 
by  a  fund  created  by  individual  subscriptions  of  the  people, 
no  subscription  exceeding  one  dollar.    Messrs.  W.  Gibson's 


286 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Sons,  of  New  York  City,  were  the  artists,  and  this  effort  of  their 
skill  has  been  pronounced  by  the  best  critics  to  be  of  the  high- 
est order  of  merit.  The  memorial  was  viewed  by  the  press  on 
Saturday,  December  6th,  and  was  unveiled  Sunday,  December 
7th.  It  consists  of  a  handsome  black  marble  slab,  embedded 
in  the  west  wall  of  the  church,  to  the  south  of  the  pulpit,  and 
measures  four  feet  in  width  by  two  feet  and  four  inches  in 
height.  The  bronze  tablet  itself  is  one  foot  and  a  half  high 
by  three  feet  wide,  and  is  richly  and  artistically  designed  and 
ornamented  in  the  Romanesque  style.  Around  the  border  is 
engraved  the  Scripture  text,  "  He  was  worthy :  for  he  hath 
built  us  a  synagogue."  Within,  in  ornamental  letters  and  sur- 
rounded by  artistic  designs  and  symbols,  are  engraved  these 
words  :  "  Erected  to  the  glory  of  God  and  in  memory  of  Cor- 
nelius Vanderbilt  by  the  Church  of  the  Strangers."  In  this 
inscription  the  most  prominent  position  and  the  most  striking 
lettering  are  given  to  the  name  of  the  Deity,  that  the  idea  might 
be  conveyed  that  while  gratitude  is  expressed  to  man  the  chief 
glory  is  given  to  God.  This  tablet,  as  well  as  the  motive  from 
which  it  sprang  into  existence,  has  received  from  right-minded 
people  only  words  of  highest  commendation. 

At  the  December  monthly  meeting  of  the  congregation, 
which  was  also  the  annual  meeting,  all  the  reports  were  so  en- 
couraging as  to  set  Dr.  Deems's  mind  at  rest  as  he  started  off 
for  a  six  months'  absence.  The  church  owed  not  one  cent, 
many  new  members  had  been  added  during  the  year,  and  a 
spirit  of  unity  and  industry  prevailed. 

Another  gratifying  thing  both  to  Dr.  Deems  and  his  son, 
the  Rev.  Edward  M.  Deems,  was  the  action  of  the  church 
authorities  in  inviting  the  latter  to  serve  as  acting  pastor  during 
the  absence  of  his  father  from  January  i  to  July  i,  1880.*  No 

*  Mr.  Deems  luul  been  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Long- 
mont,  Colo.,  for  two  years,  and  had  recently  returned  from  a  four  months' 
tour  in  Europe. 


INCREASING  ACTIVITY 


287 


pastor  could  have  left  his  church  for  a  prolonged  absence  under 
circumstances  more  favorable  to  freedom  from  anxiety. 

About  the  last  thing  Dr.  Deems  did  before  starting  on  his 
travels  was  to  establish  the  Deems  Fund  in  the  University  of 
North  Carolina.  He  thus  wrote  of  this  matter  some  years 
later : 

"  The  history  of  this  fund  is  this.  My  father  was  a  Meth- 
odist minister  on  a  limited  salary.  He  found  it  difficult,  with 
all  the  economy  which  I  exercised,  to  meet  all  my  expenses  at 
college,  although  I  believe  there  is  not  an  alumnus  of  Dickin- 
son College  who  spent  less  in  the  four  years  of  his  undergrad- 
uate course  than  I  did.  I  lacked  not  quite  twenty  dollars  of 
paying  up  every  bill  I  owed  when  the  time  of  my  graduation 
came.  I  borrowed  it  of  the  president,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Durbin, 
and  in  less  than  a  year  I  had  repaid  the  loan.  There  was  a 
sense  of  independence  in  this  that  has  always  been  a  great 
gratification  to  me.  It  suggested,  also,  that  I  in  my  turn  might 
be  able  to  do  something  for  some  one  else  going  through  college 
under  straitened  circumstances. 

"In  the  year  1879  I  began  to  carry  out  my  design.  My 
former  pupil,  the  Hon.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  had  become  president 
of  the  University  of  North  Carolina.  While  I  was  a  young 
professor  there  my  first  child,  Theodore  Disosway  Deems,  was 
born.  He  fell  in  the  Confederate  service  under  Stonewall 
Jackson.  As  a  memorial  to  him  and  as  carrying  forward  my 
project,  in  December  of  1879  I  forwarded  one  hundred  dollars 
to  President  Battle,  to  be  loaned  to  students  at  easy  per  cent, 
and  on  easy  time,  the  amounts  when  repaid  to  be  reloaned. 
I  had  contributed  six  hundred  dollars  in  this  way  when,  one 
day,  I  was  invited  by  Mr.  WiUiam  H.  Vanderbilt  to  call  at 
his  house,  then  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Fortieth 
Street,  to  give  him  some  advice  in  regard  to  a  matter  upon 
which  he  had  been  studying  and  upon  which  I  happened  to 
have,  as  he  believed,  the  information  he  needed.    He  knew 


288 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


something  about  my  students'  loan  fund,  and  asked  me  par- 
ticularly as  to  its  details.  It  was  a  short  story,  which  I  told 
him  frankly. 

"  '  Why,  doctor,  I  will  give  you  ten  thousand  dollars  for 
that! '  he  said. 

"  '  You  will?  '  said  I.    '  Scholar  and  gentleman! ' 

"  That  was  all  that  was  said.  Next  day  a  check  came  for 
tlie  amount ;  and  when  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Vanderbilt  to  ask  for 
directions  for  its  disbursement,  his  reply  was  that  he  wanted 
it  to  go  just  where  my  donations  had  gone  and  in  the  same 
way,  his  only  request  being  that  I  should  make  it  do  the  most 
good  possible  to  the  most  boys." 

At  length  all  preparations  were  completed,  and  on  Tuesday 
morning,  December  30th,  attended  by  troops  of  friends.  Dr. 
Deems  entered  the  cabin  of  the  "  Germanic "  of  the  White 
Star  Line.  Under  a  shower  of  flowers  and  farewells  he  started 
on  his  pilgrimage  to  Egypt,  Sinai,  and  Palestine,  full  of  joyful 
anticipations  of  the  realization  of  one  of  the  sweetest  dreams 
of  his  life — to  see  earth's  most  sacred  places,  with  which  al- 
ready he  had  become  so  familiar  by  his  studies  for  the  pulpit 
and  his  preparation  for  writing  the  life  of  Jesus. 


CHAPTER  XII 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS,  1880 

DR.  DEEMS'S  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  was  uneventful, 
but  most  restful.    He  thus  writes  of  his  one  Sunday  on 
the  ocean : 

"The  first  Sunday  in  January,  1880,  was  spent  on  the  sea 
in  the  good  ship  '  Germanic '  of  the  White  Star  Line.  A 
minister  of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  is  never  '  off  duty ' ; 
his  whole  Hfe  must  preach  when  his  tongue  is  silent.  Ten 
days  of  confinement  to  the  same  party,  in  a  limited  space, 
with  the  routine  of  ship  life,  put  a  clergyman  under  very  close 
inspection.  It  is  of  no  use  to  put  on  anything,  and  he  cannot 
stand  off  from  his  fellow-passengers.  If  love  for  God  and 
love  for  men  and  an  intense  conviction  of  the  truth  of  the 
gospel  pervade  his  whole  spiritual  constitution,  his  presence 
will  be  a  blessing ;  for  these  will  come  out  in  all  his  actions 
and  speech,  whether  he  pray  or  play ;  but  if  these  be  absent, 
all  priestly  airs  will  pass  for  nothing.  Few  things  are  so 
searching  as  a  sea  voyage.  Happy  is  the  minister  who  feels 
when  he  lands  that  he  has  been  servant  to  no  other  than  his 
divine  Master.  If  this  be  not  the  case,  it  would  seem  to  have 
been  better  that  he  should  have  been  dropped  into  the  river 
at  the  dock  before  starting,  even  if  no  Jonah  whale  were  there 
to  give  him  a  warm  bath. 

289 


290 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


"  We  had  but  one  Sunday  on  our  voyage.  On  Saturday  the 
purser  politely  invited  me  to  officiate  next  morning.  I  make  it 
a  point  to  accept  every  invitation  to  preach  when  there  seems 
to  be  a  fitting  occasion  and  no  other  minister  is  present,  A 
pulpit  was  rigged  at  the  end  of  one  of  the  long  tables,  and 
nearly  all  the  saloon  passengers  were  present.  Of  course  I 
conformed  to  the  Sunday  custom  of  the  ship  and  read  the 
morning  prayers  of  the  Church  of  England,  omitting  such 
portions  as  are  specifically  appropriate  only  in  Great  Britain, 
not,  however,  omitting  the  'prayer  for  the  queen's  majesty,' 
modifying  it  after  this  fashion  :  '  Most  heartily  we  beseech  thee 
with  thy  favor  to  behold  the  [our]  Most  Gracious  Sovereign 
Lady,  Queen  Victoria,  and  thy  servant,  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  replenish  them,'  etc.  There  was  a 
supply  of  prayer-books  and  the  responses  were  hearty. 

"  The  text  of  the  sermon  was  Genesis  xii.  2  :  '  And  thou 
shalt  be  a  blessing.'  I  had  no  sermon  on  this  text,  except 
such  as  had  suggested  itself  to  me  in  reading  this  chapter  in 
my  state-room  the  day  before. 

"  I  regretted  to  discover  that  the  second-class  passengers 
had  not  been  invited  to  the  saloon,  together  with  such  of  the 
ship's  crew  as  were  off  duty,  and  resolved  to  make  a  stipula- 
tion for  their  presence  if  a  similar  invitation  should  be  given 
me.  No  service  seems  complete  without  a  collection.  As  a 
thank-offering  I  '  took  up  a  collection '  for  the  Liverpool 
Orphan  Asylum,  and  a  neat  sum  was  contributed.  No  doubt 
there  will  be  some  light-minded  party  to  suggest  that  it  was 
the  '  ruling  passion,'  and  perhaps  throw  up  to  me,  as  an  Eng- 
lish lady  already  has  done,  the  story  of  the  two  sailors  on  the 
wreck.  In  the  afternoon  I  read  the  life  of  Archbishop  Whately, 
written  by  his  daughter.  In  several  places  I  was  reminded 
of  the  great  injustice  which  may  be  done  to  men  under  the 
charge  of  plagiarism ;  for  in  this  book  were  thoughts  which  I 
had  frequently  uttered  and  supposed  them  to  be  original. 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


291 


On  the  Sunday  immediately  preceding  my  departure  I  had 
made  a  statement  in  the  morning  sermon  which  evidently 
startled  the  congregation,  so  much  so  that  I  felt  compelled  to 
repeat  it  with  explanatory  phrases.  In  this  book  I  found  the 
identical  sentence,  word  for  word,  recorded  as  a  saying  of  the 
archbishop  very  many  years  ago.  Of  the  existence  of  the  vol- 
ume I  had  no  knowledge  until  I  found  it  in  the  ship's  library. 
It  was  pleasant  to  know  that  I  had  ever  thought  as  such  a 
man  as  Whately  had  thought ;  but  it  was  not  pleasant  to 
reflect  that  some  microscopic  critic  might  see  a  report  of  the 
sermon,  might  also  see  this  memoir,  and  then  might  scribble 
for  some  newspaper  the  charge  that  the  pastor  of  the  Church 
of  the  Strangers  had,  before  preaching  it,  become  '  saturated ' 
with  the  great  Archbishop  of  Dubhn!"  * 


From  the  London  "  Christian  Age  " 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  C.  F.  Deems,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers,  New  York,  arrived  in  London  on  the  loth  of  Jan- 
uary, and  gave  us  a  call.  The  doctor  is  of  medium  height, 
quick  in  speech,  affable  in  manner,  employs  few  but  well- 
selected  words.  Dr.  Deems  presides  over  a  large  church  with 
a  membership  of  six  hundred  persons,  and  has  a  congregation 
of  twelve  hundred.  He  is  en  route  to  the  Holy  Land.  During 
the  week  he  spent  in  London  he  has  received  the  most  cordial 
receptions.  Among  these  we  may  note  his  breakfast  with  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  of  Rangoon,  at  the  Religious  Tract  Society's 
premises.  Here  his  address  was  acknowledged  by  the  com- 
mittee's unanimous  vote  of  thanks,  one  of  the  committee  adding, 
'  Dr.  Deems  joins  wit  to  wisdom.'  By  a  special  invitation,  he 
visited  the  Presbyterian  College  in  Queen's  Square.  The 
London  Presbytery  was  in  session,  and  he  was  requested  to 

*  "  Homiletic  Review,"  vol.  iv.,  p.  353. 


292  CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 

remain  as  a  '  visiting  member.'  This  led  to  a  pleasant  inter- 
view with  Dr.  Oswald  Dykes  and  Dr.  Donald  Fraser,  who 
invited  Dr.  Deems  to  attend  their  annual  social  meeting  in  the 
Regent's  Square  Church.  The  doctor  has  been  solicited  to 
arrange  for  the  publication  of  a  volume  of  his  sermons  after 
his  return  from  the  East.  During  his  short  stay  in  London 
the  doctor  managed  to  hear  Cardinal  Manning,  the  Rev. 
Newman  Hall,  and  Dr.  Joseph  Parker." 


From  the  "Atiglo- American  Times"  of  January  ;^oth 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  F.  Deems,  of  New  York,  spent  in 
Paris  three  days  last  week  en  route  to  Egypt.  He  will  go  up 
the  Nile  as  far  as  the  first  cataract,  after  which  he  will  make 
a  tour  through  the  Holy  Land,  thence  to  Constantinople  and 
Athens,  and  return  to  Paris  for  a  brief  visit.  Dr.  Charles  F. 
Deems  is  the  popular  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers. 
When  passing  through  London  en  route  for  Palestine  he  stayed 
with  his  friend  Mr.  Hoge  at  Bexley,  Kent.  The  day  before 
his  departure  for  France,  while  engaged  with  the  family  in 
quiet  conversation  in  the  drawing-room,  all  were  startled  by 
a  piercing  scream.  Mrs.  Hoge,  who  once  lost  a  little  child 
by  an  accident,  was  almost  palsied  with  fright.  The  doctor  ran 
through  the  hall,  down  the  stairs,  and  made  his  way  to  the 
kitchen,  where  he  found  Mr.  Hoge's  little  three-year-old  boy, 
who  had  been  left  alone  for  a  moment  by  his  nurse,  enveloped 
in  flames.  Stripping  off  his  coat  with  great  presence  of  mind, 
the  doctor  wrapped  it  around  the  little  fellow  and  thus  smo- 
thered the  flame  and  saved  the  child.  Dr.  Deems  said  he  knew 
very  well  his  letter  of  credit  and  excursion  tickets  to  and  from 
the  first  cataract  were  in  the  side  pocket  of  his  coat,  but  he 
never  faltered  a  moment  on  this  account.  The  fire  was  ex- 
tinguished before  it  had  gained  much  headway." 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


293 


To  His  Wife 
"Paris,  Hotel  de  Londres,  January  19,  1880. 

"Yesterday  afternoon  I  hit  on  a  service  at  Notre  Dame. 
How  exceedingly  grand  the  structure!  and  what  music!  In 
striving  to  get  out,  as  my  luck  would  have  it,  I  wandered  into 
the  sacristy  of  the  chapter  among  all  the  '  bigwigs.'  I  begged 
pardon,  explained  that  I  was  'an  American  ecclesiastic,'  and 
they  actually  welcomed  me  and  begged  me  to  go  all  over  the 
apartments!  Thence  I  took  a  cab  to  go  to  Father  Hya- 
cinthe's.  What  a  change  from  that  grand  Notre  Dame, 
where  he  used  to  thunder,  to  this  modest  chapel  of  the  Gal- 
lican  Catholic  Church! 

"  The  service  was  over  two  hours  in  length,  the  sermon 
more  than  one.  He  had  not  expected  to  preach.  The  lesson 
for  the  day  was  '  The  Marriage  in  Cana,'  and  he  preached  on 
the  subject.  Under  the  ban  for  being  a  married  priest,  you 
should  have  seen  the  vigor  he  put  into  his  discourse.  Some 

passages  were  very  fine.  He  is  about  as  tall  as  F  and  as 

big  as  Mr.  Beecher. 

"  After  service  I  expressed  a  wish  to  speak  with  him  and 
was  shown  up  narrow  stairs  to  his  vestry.  There  sat  Mere 
Hyacinthe,  his  spouse,  holding  her  court  until  he  came  from 
the  altar.  Every  one  stood  around  her.  She  is  a  noble-look- 
ing woman.  At  last  she  signed  to  me.  I  was  beginning  to 
make  a  Httle  speech  in  French,  handing  her  my  card.  The 
moment  she  saw  the  name  she  arose  and  said,  '  Come,  sit  by 
me,  and  let  me  have  the  honor  of  holding  that  hand.'  The 
crowd  fell  back.  She  held  me  by  the  right  hand  and  said, 
'  I  have  heard  you  preach,  and  shall  never  forget  you.  Oh, 
you  cannot  tell  how  many  times  I  have  prayed  for  I'figlise  des 
fitrangers.'  And  many  more  sayings  quite  as  kind.  Then 
she  took  me  into  the  inner  room,  where  we  talked  with  the 
p^re.    When  he  found  who  I  was  he  said,  '  O,  oui,  oui ;  vous 


294 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


^tes  comme  nous.'  '  Oui,  monsieur,  but  a  good  deal  more 
Protestant.'  After  pleasant  talk,  in  which  each  of  us  explained 
his  ecclesiastical  position  to  the  other,  the  Loysons  begged  me 
at  the  Holy  Sepulcher  to  pray  for  the  unity  of  all  Christians." 

To  His  Wife 

"  Island  Corfu,  Greece,  Sunday,  January  25,  1880. 
"  I  am  to-day  heartily  homesick.  .  .  .  This  afternoon  must 
be  given  to  letters.  I  sometimes  fear  that  letters  will  drive 
me  to  the  madhouse.  .  .  .  From  Paris  we  had  a  bitterly  cold 
ride.  Left  Monday  night.  Tuesday  night  at  Turin.  Wednes- 
day at  Bologna.  Then  twenty-seven  hours  shut  up  in  one  of 
those  infernal  machines,  which  lock  you  in  with  no  redress, 
whoever  may  be  your  companions.  In  crossing  Mont  Cenis 
it  was  horribly  cold.  And  all  along  the  snow  was  from  four 
inches  to  two  feet  in  depth.  Not  oftener  than  every  half- 
century  such  a  snow.  But  oh,  how  beautiful,  how  splendid, 
the  scenery!  How  often  I  cried,  '  See,  ma,  see! '  and  I  heard 
you  '  oh  '-ing  all  the  way  along.  Bologna  was  always  interest- 
ing to  me,  and  this  was  a  fine  visit,  but  so  cold.  We  reached 
Brindisi  to  dine,  and  took  the  steamer  to  this  island,  passing 
along  the  Albanian  coast,  seeing  the  high  mountains  covered 
with  snow. 

"  This  morning  I  worshiped  with  the  British  Consulate 
Church  in  the  old  Parliament  House.  This  population  is  an 
odd  mixture.  On  landing  I  saw  the  most  ferocious  faces. 
The  Albanians  stalk  about  with  a  tool-chest  of  weapons  in 
front  of  them  and  greatcoats  hanging  on  their  backs.  The 
modern  Greek  is  spoken  here.  I  copy  some  names  of  shops 
for  Ned  ;  his  Greek  will  enable  him  to  make  out  the  businesses." 

In  his  journal  Dr.  Deems  writes :  "  On  Sunday  afternoon 
[January  25,  1880]  I  came  upon  a  church  with  the  following 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


296 


thrilling  inscription :  '  NA02  TH2  T.  0,  <I>,  SENS2N  '  ('  Church 
of  the  Strangers ')." 

To  His  Wife 

"Cairo,  Egypt,  February  i,  1880. 
"We  were  in  Corfu  last  week.  Then  came  in  the  steamers, 
and  we  put  out  that  evening  for  Alexandria — '  Skanderea,' 
as  the  Arabs  so  musically  name  it.  Read  Acts  xxvii.  and  you 
will  know  what  a  sea  this  is  when  the  Euroclydon  is  upon  it. 
Paul  never  had  my  sympathies  so  much.  But  we  lost  nothing 
but  a  day.  Another  steamer  lost  some  passengers.  Nearly 
all  our  company  were  deadly  sick.  I  took  every  meal.  If 
any  report  of  any  little  accident  reach  you,  it  amounted  to 
nothing — only  a  bruise  on  the  leg,  which  did  not  keep  me  from 
'  doing '  Alexandria  to  such  an  extent  as  to  excite  the  envy  of 
the  Enghsh  co-voyagers.*  We  reached  Alexandria  Thursday 
afternoon.  .  .  .  This  afternoon  I  started  to  find  the  school 
of  Miss  Whately,  the  archbishop's  daughter.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Binnie,  whose  church  the  Duke  of  Argyll  attended  in  London, 
expressed  a  desire  to  go  along.  By  perseverance  we  found 
it  and  found  two  sisters,  one  who  wrote  his  lordship's  life,  and 
one  who  has  founded,  and  mainly  from  her  own  means  sus- 
tained, these  schools.  We  have  a  little  book  of  hers.  They 
gave  us  a  warm  reception.  My  familiarity  with  the  works  of 
the  family  seemed  to  take  them  by  storm.  When  we  rose  to 
go  Mr.  Binnie  suggested  that  I  should  lead  in  prayer,  which 
I  did  fervently.  Miss  Jane,  the  biographer,  gave  me  two  of 
her  books. 

"  February  2d,  5  :  30  p.m.  I  have  stood  on  top  the  highest 
pyramid,  penetrated  its  farthest  recess,  stood  before  the  Sphinx, 

*  It  would  seem  that  Dr.  Deems,  during  the  storm,  came  near  losing 
his  life  by  falling  on  the  hurricane-deck,  the  entangling  of  his  foot  in  the 
shield  of  the  rudder-chain  being  all  that  saved  him  from  being  thrown 
overboard. 


296 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


penetrated  the  recesses  of  the  temple  of  the  Sphinx,  hunted  on 
hands  and  knees  in  tombs,  scraped  away  the  sand  from  the 
hieroglyphics,  and  am  back !  Before  washing  out  of  my  eyes 
the  dust  of  the  Pharaohs  and  their  wives  I  must  close  this  let- 
ter to  catch  the  mail.  It  was  most  stupendous!  Next  to 
getting  married,  the  greatest  sensation  I  have  had  was  at  the 
pyramids." 

From  His  Journal 

"  Monday,  February  2d.  To  the  pyramids.  The  sheik. 
The  ascent.  My  helpers,  Mohammed  and  Ali.  My  sickness. 
The  nuisance  of  bakshish.  The  Sphinx.  Driving  away  the 
Ishmaelites.  I  asked  one  of  the  Arabs,  '  Where  is  Abou  ben 
Adhem?'  Of  course  he  had  not  read  the  poem,  but  he  an- 
swered promptly, '  Oh,  that  man  been  dead  long  ago.'  '  Where's 
his  tribe?'  'No  tribe.'  'Then  did  Leigh  Hunt  pray  in 
vain!  '    All  Greek  to  him." 

To  His  Granddaughter,  Katherine  Verdery 

"  On  the  Nile,  in  Egypt,  Africa, 

"  Wednesday,  February  4,  1880. 
" '  Gramper '  *  is,  oh,  so  far  away  from  his  darlings,  and  so 
homesick!  It  is  after  two  o'clock  and  he  has  had  luncheon, 
and  his  babies  probably  have  not  had  their  breakfast.  And 
what  sights  gramper  has  seen!  Yesterday  he  saw  a  building 
which  has  stood  as  long  before  Abraham  was  born  as  the  time 
between  the  birth  of  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem  and  the  birth  of 
my  darhng  '  A.  K.'  When  you  grow  older  your  dear  mama 
can  make  you  understand  this.  There  he  went  down  into  a 
tomb  far  underground  and  saw  a  stone  coffin  so  large  that 
your  whole  family  could  take  breakfast  in  it,  and  it  was  a  hun- 
dred times  as  old  as  gramper. 

*  The  child's  expression  for  "  grandpa." 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


297 


"Tell  papa  and  mama  that  last  Monday  gramper  went  to 
the  top  of  the  largest  pyramid.  It  is  almost  seven  times  as 
high  as  the  watch-tower  in  your  street,  and  the  steps  almost  a 
yard  high.  Two  Arabs,  Mohammed  and  Ali,  pulled  gramper 
up.  It  was  awful ;  the  agony  given  the  poor  rheumatic  arm 
seemed  more  than  could  be  borne,  and  once  gramper  sat  down 
to  faint.  To  faint  and  to  fall  there  was  an  awful  death.  He 
could  look  down  to  the  island  where  little  Moses'  bulrush  ark 
stranded,  and  out  to  the  obelisk  that  Joseph  looked  at  when 
married,  and  when  the  dim  death-sickness  fell  upon  him  he  saw 
all  his  darlings  sleeping  in  their  New  York  and  Augusta  beds, 
and  so  he  ruled  himself  back  from  the  brink  of  unconscious- 
ness and  lived. 

"  Little  and  big  Arabs  run  all  about  this  great  pile  of  stones 
and  will  do  anything  for  money.  The  sheik  of  the  pyramids 
had  somehow  learned  that  special  attention  was  to  be  paid  to 
A.  K.'s  gramper.  How  she  got  there  I  do  not  know,  but  a 
little  Arab  girl  squatted  by  me  with  a  goblet  of  cold  water. 
'  Water,  docta,  water?  '  (They  all  knew  me  on  landing  as  '  the 
doctor,'  and  thought  I  owned  all  the  EngHsh  people  and  car- 
riages, and  America  too.)  '  Yes,'  I  said.  Ali  took  my  hand- 
kerchief, sopped  it  in  water,  slid  it  up  to  my  temple,  and  patted 
my  back.  Mohammed  rubbed  my  legs  and  said  caressingly, 
'Take  your  time,  doctor.'  (They  all  know  a  few  English 
phrases.)  'Take  your  time,  doctor,'  echoed  Ali.  Gramper 
felt  life  coming  back.  Silent  thankfulness  came  first ;  then 
fun,  that  said  quietly  and  brokenly,  '  Yes,  boys ;  I  must  take 
time  or  eternity  will  take  me.'  Then  I  put  all  weakness  aside 
and  said,  'Up;'  and  we  went  on  the  top,  safe,  if  not  sound, 
my  breathing  as  good  as  that  of  a  healthy  babe ;  my  lungs 
were  the  admiration  of  the  company.  Then  I  was  all  right. 
Oh,  such  sights!  Oh,  such  air!  I  had  never  breathed  any- 
thing like  that.  After  staying  as  long  as  I  wanted  and  making 
my  observations,  the  air  had  so  invigorated  me  that  I  stood 


298 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


on  the  cope  and  looked  down,  a  little  dizzy,  as  if  I  stood  on 
a  chair.  I  walked  the  whole  way  down,  supported  by  the 
hands  of  my  Arabs,  yz?^<?  foretnost,  as  sound  of  mind  and  clear 
of  head  as  ever  in  my  life.  It  was  worth  more  than  it  had 
cost.  But  to-day  I  am  so  sore  that  I  can  hardly  put  my 
clothes  on. 

"  Now  we  are  coming  into  a  warmer  cHmate  and  I  trust  I 
shall  lose  my  rheumatism.  It  is  beautiful  on  the  Nile  to-day. 
The  sky  is  perfectly  clear ;  the  dome  above  our  head  is  of  the 
deepest  possible  blue,  and  all  the  horizon  an  exquisitely  delicate 
pearl  color.  Little  birds  come  on  board,  one  kind  being  what 
they  call  in  England  water-wagtail.  The  Arab  name  is 
ashoor.  They  are  regular  little  Turks;  each  htde  man  bird 
has  several  wives,  and  they  whip  them  well  if  they  don't  be- 
have themselves.  They  all  have  the  crescent  mark  on  their 
breasts. 

"  Gramper  has  had  every  attention  paid  him.  At  Alexan- 
dria he  was  entertained  one  night  by  an  English  merchant. 
He  rode  from  the  station  to  the  mansion  on  a  httle  donkey 
named  '  Bulbul.'  On  the  way  he  saw  two  children  in  a  basket 
riding  on  another  donkey.  He  shouted  out  to  them,  and  soon 
after  they  came  into  the  court,  and  then  ran  into  the  dining- 
room,  and  one  of  them  rushed  into  gramper's  arms.  The  black- 
eyed,  rosy-cheeked  little  Hebe  was  named  Gracie  Alderson. 
She  pushed  back  the  hair  from  gramper's  forehead  and  kissed 
it  and  said,  '  Have  you  any  httle  girl? '  whereupon  gramper 
proceeded  to  dehver  a  discourse  on  '  Lambly  Lamb '  and 
'  Dovely  Dove.'  The  family  were  so  kind  to  me!  The  chil- 
dren rode  over  to  the  Cairo  station  to  bid  me  good-by. 

"  I  do  not  know  whether  you  can  read  this  letter,  the  boat 
jars  me  so.  Nor  do  I  know  where  it  is  to  be  posted.  As  I 
cannot  write  much,  you  must  send  this  to  '  grammer.'  Dear 
grammer,  how  I  long  to  see  her!" 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


299 


To  His  Wife 

"Assouan,  Upper  Egypt,  February  i6,  i88o. 
"  Oh,  how  I  longed  for  you  to-day  at  Philae !  The  beauty 
of  the  island  and  the  grandeur  of  its  surroundings,  seen  in  the 
splendor  of  an  Egyptian  day  which  gazed  down  upon  the 
glorious  ruins  of  the  last  temple  built  to  the  old  faith,  was 
something  to  hve  in  the  memory  forever.  We  went  to  it 
through  a  desert,  some  of  the  party  on  camels,  some  on 
donkeys. 

"  In  some  portions  not  a  spear  of  green  growth  was  to  be 
seen.  We  then  came  down  to  the  first  cataract,  which  we  had 
flanked.  Down  under  the  ledge  of  sandstone  which  forms  the 
plateau  on  the  bend  of  the  river,  from  which  travelers  look 
down  upon  the  Nubians  shooting  the  cataract,  I  gathered  and 
send  you  these  httle  flowers,  a  smile  from  a  frowning  brow." 

"  Suez,  Egypt,  February  28,  1880. 
"  Every  Monday  I  have  written  you,  but  next  Monday  I 
shall  be  two  days'  journey  from  any  post-office,  and  this  is  my 
last  writing  for  three  weeks.  My  camels  have  gone  around 
the  head  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  this  afternoon  I  go  down  by 
boat  and  land  near  the  fount,  or  well,  of  Moses.  There  I 
mount  for  a  few  hours'  ride  to  break  me  in  to  camels.  I  shall 
be  on  them  every  day  for  three  weeks,  except  the  three  days  I 
propose  to  spend  at  Sinai.  It  now  occurs  to  me  how  wise  the 
arrangement  was  to  lead  the  Israelites  through  this  great  and 
terrible  wilderness  as  a  preparation  for  the  giving  of  the  law. 
It  is  like  going  up  many  steps  to  a  high  altar.  Yesterday  I 
left  Cairo  and  came  to  this  place  by  rail,  doubling  the  direct 
distance  by  sweeping  around  the  land  of  Goshen,  where  the 
Israelites  dwelt.    If,  now,  on  that  elevation  down  there  near 


300 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


the  arm  of  the  Red  Sea  were  Sinai,  I  should  not  be  able  to 
approach  it  with  much  awe,  but  eight  days  of  travel  above  the 
measured  tread  of  the  solemn  camel,  wrapped  in  one's  thoughts, 
and  nine  nights  of  sleep  in  a  tent  amid  the  stillness  of  a  region 
where  no  bird  chirps  and  no  insect  flies,  must  be  the  best  pos- 
sible preparation  for  going  to  the  mount  that  may  be  touched, 
where  Moses  battled  with  God.  Oh,  that  the  Mount  of  the 
Law  may  give  me  the  most  solemn  preparation  to  receive  the 
benediction  of  Calvary! 

"  I  have  for  dragoman  the  best  recommended  man  in  Cairo. 
He  says  the  camels  are  good.  We  take  kitchen,  meats,  fruit, 
water,  everything,  with  us.  I  have  shortened  my  trip  and  shall 
not  go  up  through  the  peninsula  to  Hebron,  but  retvu-n  to 
Suez  and  thence  to  Port  Said,  to  Jaffa,  Jerusalem,  etc.  Will 
give  reason  when  we  meet.  I  have  three  companions;  one 
is  a  clergyman.  For  my  own  edification  I  should  prefer  to  go 
alone  and  have  three  weeks  of  silence  and  of  thought.  But 
if  anything  should  happen  it  is  better  to  have  companions  who 
speak  one's  own  tongue.  Everything  now  promises  a  good 
and  pleasant  trip.  You  need  not  worry.  About  the  day  this 
reaches  you  I  shall  be  on  the  canal  going  to  Port  Said  and  all 
extraordinary  danger  will  be  past.  The  serious  part  of  my 
whole  trip  lies  between  my  writing  and  your  reception  of  this 
letter.  The  heavenly  Father  will  be  with  me.  Into  his  hands, 
for  judgment  and  mercy,  I  give  my  soul." 

"  Sinai,  in  Arabia,  March  9,  1880. 
"  It  would  make  your  head  swim  if  you  could  see  the  dizzy 
heights  to  which  I  have  carried  you  in  my  heart.  I  write  this 
from  the  venerable  Convent  of  St.  Catherine,  more  than  twelve 
centuries  old.  It  is  a  very  peculiar  place,  the  description  of 
which  is  ample  in  my  note-book  and  cannot  be  repeated  here. 
It  is  inhabited  by  forty  monks,  presided  over  by  a  bishop. 
They  are  of  the  Greek  Church,  exceedingly  dirty  and  polite. 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


301 


They  have  been  very  attentive  to  me.  One  gay  and  festive 
little  brother  calls  me  '  Episcopus  Demetrius.' 

"  My  health  has  been  good.  The  water  here  is  delicious ; 
the  traditional  sacred  places  are  innumerable.  I  have  taken 
water  from  the  well  from  which  Moses  drew  to  water  the  flocks 
of  his  father  Jethro.  The  valley  to  the  north  of  the  convent 
bears  the  Arabic  name  of  Jethro,  and  two  mountains  bear  the 
names  of  sisters-in-law  of  Moses.  Yesterday  was  a  marked 
day.  I  went  up  to  the  spot  where  they  say  the  law  was  given. 
It  was  a  tremendous  pull.  The  view  from  the  right  is  most 
grand,  far  beyond  all  I  had  conceived.  Then  I  climbed  an- 
other great  mountain,  from  which  Dr.  Robinson  believes  the 
law  was  promulgated.  '  In  all  my  life,'  as  A.  H.  C.  said,  have 
I  never  seen  so  perfect  a  day.  The  sky  was  fleckless  and  blue 
to  a  depth  of  blueness  which  is  indescribable,  and  the  air  was 
delicious  to  the  lungs.  From  Ras  Sassafa  the  view  of  the 
plain  in  which  it  is  supposed  the  Israelites  were  encamped, 
surrounded  as  it  was  by  mountains,  was  a  surpassing  beauty. 
And  you  were  with  me  all  the  while.  In  the  solemn  solitude 
of  the  mountain-top  I  lay  on  my  face  before  God.  Heaven 
was  awfully  near  there.  I  prayed  for  you  and  for  each  of  my 
children  by  name. 

"There  is  no  certainty  as  to  which  was  the  exact  Sinai. 
Dean  Stanley  leans  to  a  mountain  which  he  did  not  ascend. 
This  morning  I  hired  a  Bedouin  guide  and  ascended  one  side, 
and,  against  his  protest,  descended  on  the  other.  He  would 
not  at  first  consent  to  go  to  the  extreme  summit,  but  while  he 
was  meditating  I  gave  him  the  slip,  and,  creeping  cautiously 
around  and  up,  sometimes  on  my  stomach,  I  gained  the  height, 
from  which  I  shouted  to  him  to  come  up  and  help  me  down. 
Getting  to  a  height  is  one  thing,  coming  down  another.  But 
I  did  come  down  with  swollen  feet  and  torn  hands.  I  know 
of  no  one  else  among  the  writers  on  Bible  lands  who  has  done 
it.    My  dinner  was  ready,  bread,  water,  cold  chicken,  cheese, 


302 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


walnuts,  raisins,  and  coffee.  He  has  spread  a  table  in  the 
wilderness  for  his  child. 

"  Tell  A.  K.  that  we  had  a  baby  camel  in  our  caravan,  and 
as  she  was  a  girl  camel  I  called  her  Princess  Louise. 

"  Suez,  March  1 7th.  Since  the  other  two  pages  were  written 
I  have  followed  the  supposed  route  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
reversing  it  by  coming  down  from  Sinai  to  near  their  crossing- 
place.  I  have  risen  very  early,  slept  in  a  tent,  and  seen  all  I 
could.  To-day  was  hard  and  hot,  but  we  have  had  it  punish- 
ingly  cold.  I  am  burnt  and  have  grayed  and  thinned.  It  has 
been  twenty  days  of  great  exertion." 

"  David  Street,  Jerusalem,  March  29,  1880. 
"  For  an  hour  my  conscience  has  been  puUing  at  me.  My 
Monday  letter  has  not  been  written.  I  have  been  passing 
about  looking  at  this  and  at  that.  A  thousand  things  are  to 
be  seen,  and  the  Bishop  of  Jerusalem  has  invited  me  to  a 
party  at  his  house  to-night,  and  I  have  promised  his  lordship 
to  be  present  and  so  cannot  write  after  dark.  But  you  must 
know  that  I  am  still  holding  up,  and  so  I  rush  in  to  write, 
even  if  it  be  a  short  letter,  before  I  write  up  the  notes  of  the 
day.  Sight-seeing  is  very  wearing.  Your  time  you  know  is 
limited,  and  it  may  rain.  You  will  never  come  back  and  so 
you  want  to  see  everything.  Your  enthusiasm  carries  you  for- 
ward until  you  ache  at  the  close  of  the  day's  labor.  I  have 
been  here  five  days,  including  Sunday,  and  have  done  much. 
There  is  so  much  going  up  and  down,  as  this  morning  over 
the  Mosque  of  Omar,  and  down,  down,  through  rough  subter- 
ranean structures,  and  this  afternoon  over  the  Armenian  Con- 
vent and  up  David's  Tower.  I  hold  out  very  well  for  an  old 
man.  The  first  day  I  could  do  little,  as  a  horse  in  our  cara- 
van had  kicked  my  foot  the  day  before.  That  passed  off,  and 
then  yesterday  I  fell  in  our  hotel,  striking  myself  against  the 
stone  step,  and  am  much  bruised.    Nevertheless  you  see  how 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


303 


much  I  have  accomplished.  I  shall  not  resume  the  saddle  for 
a  day  or  two,  and  trust  I  shall  be  much  better— all  right,  in- 
deed. 

"  To-day  I  called  on  the  Armenian  patriarch.  This  con- 
vent is  the  largest  in  Jerusalem,  and  rich.  The  patriarch 
maintains  much  state,  but  received  me  most  cordially.  He 
can  speak  neither  French  nor  English.    The  young  man  who 

accompanied  me  is  a  friend  of  the  F  s.    He  knows  no 

English!  Now  fancy  the  scene  and  the  struggle.  The  arch- 
bishop would  not  allow  me  to  kiss  his  hand,  thus  acknowledg- 
ing my  orders  and  my  dignity.  He  knew  something  of 
America,  and  so  we  began.  I  frankly  gave  him  my  views  on 
the  Catholicity  of  Christianity,  and  the  departure  from  Chris- 
tianity by  those  who  are  so  fond  of  calling  themselves  Catholic. 
That  I  made  my  companion  understand,  and  he  repeated  it 
to  the  patriarch  in  splendid  style.  I  could  comprehend  his 
French  and  know  that  he  was  doing  it  well.  It  is  delightful 
to  be  reported  above  the  level  of  one's  own  rhetoric.  The 
patriarch  showed  me  a  very  old  copy  of  the  gospels  (written 
in  A.D.  602),  and  had  the  sweetmeats  and  coffee  brought  in 
then,  as  he  smihngly  said,  treating  me  '  hke  a  Turk.'  He  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  have  a  portrait  of  me.  I  had  no  photo- 
graph, but  promised  to  send  him  one  when  I  reached  America. 
I  was  modest  enough  to  ask  for  only  his  autograph.  He  gave 
me  a  fine  photograph  with  his  autograph  beneath  it.  He  then 
presented  me  with  a  peculiar  rosary.  It  is  made  of  the  seed 
of  olive,  of  a  tree  which  grows  adjoining  the  prison  of  Christ, 
or  house  of  Annas.  Of  course  it  is  not  the  tree  which  stood 
there  in  the  days  of  our  Lord,  but  the  patriarch  holds  it  as  a 
legitimate  descendant.  He  gathers  the  fruit  from  the  tree, 
which  is  carefully  guarded  by  a  wall  seven  feet  high,  as  I  was 
shown,  and  makes  the  seed  into  rosaries,  to  be  given  to  royal 
visitors  and  to  other  '  persons  of  high  distinction ' ;  wherefore 
he  most  graciously  presented  me  with  one.  I  accepted  it  very 


304 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


gratefully  as  a  present  from  the  patriarch,  and  told  him  that  I 
would  take  it  to  America  and  present  it  to  my  daughter  who 
is  to  be  married  in  July.  He  learned  that  I  had  two  daughters 
and  so  insisted  on  my  taking  one  for  the  other  daughter.  So 
you  see  how  kindly  the  way  is  open  before  us. 

"  Yesterday  the  American  consul  came  and  escorted  me  to 
church  and  took  me  home  to  luncheon  with  him.  He  occupies 
the  house  which  the  F  s  lived  in. 

"The  interest  of  this  city  is  past  measure.  I  have  been 
afraid  to  begin  to  speak  of  it.  There  is  no  end.  I  have  been 
twice  to  the  Mount  of  OHves,  once  going  to  Bethany.  Every 
night  the  full  Easter  moon  rises  over  the  house  of  Martha,  and 
comes  shining  down  on  the  road  which  Jesus  followed  as  he 
came  on  Palm  Sunday,  and  the  place  where  he  wept  over 
Jerusalem.  David's  Tower  is  in  front  of  my  hotel  door.  Every 
spot  is  crowded  with  thrilling  historical  recollections. 

"  Tuesday,  March  30,  1880.  Was  at  the  bishop's  reception 
last  night.  His  lordship  devoted  a  good  deal  of  his  time  to 
me,  but  the  affair  would  have  been  dull  but  for  a  sprightly  old 

Enghsh  spinster,  a  Friend,  Miss  F  ,  who  is  very  charming. 

It  is  delightful  to  be  nice  when  old.    Let  us  be  so." 

"  Damascus,  Syria,  Monday,  April  19,  1880. 
"  I  write  you  from  the  oldest  city  known  upon  earth.  It 
seems  strange,  when  you  have  dreamed  of  anything  for  fifty 
years,  to  see  the  reality.  This  is  a  wonderful  place  of  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  inhabitants,  the  greenest 
garden  you  ever  saw,  set  in  the  desert.  It  is  very  Oriental. 
I  can  hardly  write  you  now  for  the  sights  and  sounds  under 
my  window.  There  are  all  sorts  of  colors,  from  the  preter- 
naturally  black  Nubian  to  the  beautiful  girls  of  Circassian 
blood,  white  skins,  red  cheeks,  and  black  eyes.  The  cries  of 
the  seller  are  sometimes  very  funny.  A  fellow  carries  bouquets 
for  sale  and  cries  out,  'Salik  hamatak '  (that  sounded  much 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


305 


like  A.  K.) — 'Appease  your  mother-in-law.'  A  seller  of  roasted 
peas  cries  out,  '  The  mother  of  two  fires,'  meaning  that  they 
are  well  roasted.  A  seller  of  cucumbers  begs  you,  '  O  father 
of  a  family,  buy  a  load.'  As  my  family  is  at  such  a  distance, 
I  decline  to  purchase.  But  here's  a  man  who  desires  to  dis- 
pose of  some  cresses,  and  to  assure  you  that  they  are  so  fresh, 
'  If  an  old  woman  eats  them  she  will  be  young  again  next 
morning.'  Don't  you  wish  you  had  some?  But  I  cannot  go 
into  particulars.  I  only  wish  you  could  see  the  greenery  pro- 
duced by  the  Barada  as  it  flows  through  this  city. 

"  My  health  is  good.  I  have  had  my  escapes,  but  I  have 
escaped.  Sometimes  I  am  dreadfully  tired.  I  am  crowding 
so  much  into  such  little  time." 

"Athens,  Greece,  May  13,  1880. 

"  I  feel  that  my  tour  is  drawing  to  a  close.  For  fifty  years 
I  have  longed  to  see  Athens,  yet  when  I  arrived  my  enthusiasm 
was  all  dead.  I  had  been  stuffed  with  sights  from  Alexandria 
to  Constantinople  until  I  could  endure  no  more.  But  every 
day  this  city  grows  upon  me.  It  will  be  forever  a  spot  toward 
which  the  minds  and  hearts  of  scholars  must  turn.  There  are 
a  thousand  broken  beauties  here  which  recall  a  thousand  recol- 
lections of  poetry,  eloquence,  heroism,  and  all  the  glories  which 
have  made  Greece  famous.  To-day  I  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
old  Areopagus  where  Paul  made  his  famous  address.  Strange 
enough,  my  guide  was  named  Dionysius.  (See  Acts  xvii.) 
Thence  I  ascended  the  Acropolis  and  spent  two  hours  around 
the  Parthenon.  There  is  so  much  to  be  seen  there  that  I  must 
go  back  for  a  few  more  hours. 

"  Yesterday  afternoon,  after  riding  to  Eleusis,  the  site  of  the 
old  and  famous  temple  of  Ceres,  where  the  Eleusinian  mysteries 
were  celebrated,  I  preached  in  this  city ;  so  you  see  I  have 
not  been  entirely  idle.  I  have  told  you,  I  believe,  about  my 
itinerant  Church  of  the  Strangers  in  the  Holy  Land.  The 


806 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


English  ladies  were  so  delighted  with  it  that  I  have  a  little 
service  in  one  of  their  rooms  after  dinner  each  evening.  We 
dine  from  7:30  to  9:15  p.m.  The  newest  Athens  is  beauti- 
ful, clean,  and  white,  but  a  little  too  glaring.  You  could  wish 
that  some  of  these  white  marble  houses  had  a  soberer  tint. 
Great  taste  is  exhibited  in  many  of  the  houses,  the  royal  palace 
being,  however,  the  most  uninteresting  I  ever  saw,  with  the 
plainest  barracks  front.  This  is  too  bad  for  Athens.  The 
weather  is  very  warm  and  I  fear  that  I  am  writing  quite  stupidly, 
but  I  wish  to  catch  a  mail  this  afternoon,  so  I  write  without 
taking  a  nap. 

"  I  am  ready  to  go  home.  For  almost  a  week  I  have  been 
a  little  homesick.  I  begin  to  long  for  my  regular  work  and 
feel  as  though  I  could  bear  to  hear  our  door-bell  a  little.  Is 
not  that  a  very  healthy  sign? 

"  My  program  is  from  Athens  to  Trieste,  starting  from  here 
Saturday,  the  15th  inst.  A  day  in  Venice,  a  night  in  Turin, 
a  day  in  Paris,  a  day  in  Canterbury,  then  to  London.  Start 
for  America  June  17th.  Oh,  will  it  not  be  good  to  be  at  home 
again ! " 

This  program  Dr.  Deems  carried  out,  sailing  from  Liverpool 
on  Thursday,  June  17,  1880,  in  the  "Celtic."  One  entry  in 
his  journal  is  of  importance,  as  it  gives  an  account  of  an  event 
which  really  gave  birth  in  Dr.  Deems's  mind  to  the  idea  of  the 
"  American  Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy,"  of  which  he 
became  the  founder  a  few  months  later. 

From  His  Journal 

"  Tuesday,  June  8th.  In  the  evening  attended  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Victoria  Institute,  the  philosophical  society  of 
Great  Britain.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Cotterill,  of  Edinburgh, 
made  the  annual  address.  Before  the  address  several  gentle- 
men were  called  upon  for  speeches.    I  made  the  last,  and  it 


IN  BIBLE  LANDS 


307 


was  well  received  with  many  cheers.  The  Earl  of  Shaftes- 
bury presided." 

Dr.  Deems's  address  is  thus  referred  to  in  the  printed  records 
of  the  Victoria  Institute  : 

"  Dr.  Deems  (who  on  rising  to  speak  was  at  once  requested 
by  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  to  come  on  to  the  raised  dais  by  the 
president's  chair)  began  his  speech  by  urging  the  great  value 
of  the  work  of  the  society,  which  now  numbered  its  supporters 
in  every  part  of  the  globe,  and  he  trusted  that  those  who  could, 
whether  in  America  or  any  other  part  of  the  world,  would 
strengthen  its  hands  by  joining  as  members.  He  then  spoke 
of  the  high  value  of  the  people's  edition  of  its  more  popular 
papers  as  enabling  the  society  to  place  the  results  of  its  labors 
in  the  hands  of  the  masses.  '  And  now,'  said  Dr.  Deems,  '  I 
hope  I  shall,  as  an  American,  not  frighten  an  English  audience 
by  being  thought  to  do  a  very  strange  thing ;  I  don't  know, 
but  the  fact  is,  I  am  going  to  talk  about  your  president.' 
(Cheers.)  'You  know,  in  America  we  old  people  remember 
hearing  about  Lord  Shaftesbury — our  Lord  Shaftesbury — when 
we  were  boys,  children,  and  now  we  still  hear  about  him,  his 
name  being  associated  with  everything  noble  and  for  the  good 
of  man ;  and  when  I  left  New  York  the  only  man  I  was  told 
to  be  sure  and  see  was  Lord  Shaftesbury.  And  I  expected  to 
see  an  old,  decrepit  man,  leaning  on  another  for  support;  but 
when  he  walked  into  this  room  his  step  was  firm  and  his  eye 
as  bright  as  that  of  any  one.  And  long  may  he  live  to  glad- 
den our  hearts  and  to  do  the  Master's  work,  to  which  he  has 
devoted  his  life.'  (Great  cheering.)  It  would  be  impossible 
to  describe  the  masterly  speech  and  manner  of  Dr.  Deems. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  there  was  no  speech  that  pleased  so  much  ; 
there  was  that  directness  and  simplicity  about  it  which  is  now 
making  American  oratory  so  increasingly  popular  in  England." 


CHAPTER  XIII 


THE  INSTITUTE  OF   PHILOSOPHY,  1880-92 

EARLY  Sunday  morning,  July  27th,  the  "Celtic"  was 
moored  at  the  New  York  pier  of  the  White  Star  Line. 
As  Dr.  Deems  descended  the  gang-plank  he  was  met  with 
open  arms  by  his  two  sons  and  a  reception  committee  appointed 
by  the  monthly  meeting,  the  governing  body  of  the  Church  of 
the  Strangers.  He  had  expected  to  go  immediately  into  his 
pulpit,  but  was  informed  by  the  committee  that  he  had  two 
days  for  rest  with  his  family. 

On  Tuesday  evening  a  reception  was  given  him  at  the 
church.  He  was  first  taken  into  the  main  auditorium  and 
shown  the  apse  behind  the  pulpit,  which,  through  the  generos- 
ity of  a  lady  in  his  church,  had  been  repaired  and  tastefully 
decorated  during  the  pastor's  absence.  He  expressed  the 
greatest  delight  at  this  long-needed  improvement.  Then  he 
was  escorted  into  the  lecture-room,  which  he  found  packed 
with  happy  people,  who  received  him  with  cheers.  Over  the 
raised  platform  his  eyes  rested  on  the  conspicuous  words  made 
by  gas-jets,  "  Welcome  home." 

T.  E.  F.  Randolph,  Esq.,  the  president  of  the  monthly 
meeting,  presided ;  Professor  George  W.  Pettit,  leader  of  the 
choir,  led  the  music ;  and  Mr.  George  W.  Taylor,  of  the  Ad- 
visory Council,  led  in  prayer.  After  appropriate  remarks  by 
Mr.  Randolph,  Mr.  Joseph  J.  Little,  the  president  of  the  board 
308 


THE  hXSTITUTE  OF  riJILOSOPIIY  309 

of  trustees,  made  the  address  of  welcome,  which  was  most 
tender  and  interesting,  and  was  closed  by  Mr.  Little  presenting 
Dr.  Deems  with  a  generous  purse  from  the  congregation.  Dr. 
Deems's  reply  was  as  follows : 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  my  dear  Brother  Little,  Sisters 
AND  Brethren  :  I  am  taken  at  a  delightful  disadvantage  by 
this  display  of  kindness  on  the  part  of  the  officers  and  members 
of  our  beloved  church.  No  hint  had  been  given  me  that  I 
should  be  expected  to  say  or  do  anything  to-night  beyond 
grasping  again  the  warm  hands  which  dropped  from  mine  on 
that  cold  December  night  when  we  parted. 

"There  has  been  a  Httle  mysteriousness  about  movements 
since  my  arrival.  Our  steamer  reached  the  pier  at  seven 
o'clock  last  Sunday  morning,  and  I  was  met  by  a  committee 
of  church  officers,  who  conducted  me  to  my  home.  A  thor- 
ough rest  of  ten  days  during  an  exceptionally  tranquil  voyage 
had  set  me  up,  and  I  told  them  that  I  should  be  at  church. 
They  exchanged  glances  of  distress,  and  undertook  to  tell  me 
that  I  was  too  tired!  and  to  advise  me  to  remain  with  my 
family!  !  Of  course  I  expected  to  'remain  with  my  family,' 
but  couldn't  I  just  as  well  remain  with  them  in  church?  The 
friendly  officers  did  not  take  into  account  the  rare  pleasure  it 
is  for  a  pastor  to  sit  in  a  pew,  in  a  pew  beside  his  wife ;  nor 
did  they  seem  to  think  that  naturally,  as  a  Christian,  I  longed 
to  hear  the  gospel,  and,  as  a  pastor,  longed  to  see  my  own 
church  sanctuary.  But  you  know  what  an  obedient  pastor  I 
have  always  been,  and  so  I  succumbed!  This  evening  I 
learned  what  it  meant.  When  you  met  me  at  the  church  door 
and  under  the  lights  there  was  displayed  to  me  the  newly  and 
beautifully  ornamented  apse,  with  the  appropriate  inscription 
and  decorations  with  which  it  was  adorned,  I  saw  that  you 
were  kindly  keeping  this  as  a  surprise  to  increase  the  delights 
which  you  are  heaping  upon  my  reception. 

"  And  now  in  this  crowded  chapel  you  have  spoken  by  the 


310 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


lips  of  the  president  of  your  board  of  trustees  such  manly,  kind, 
and  Ciiristian  words  of  greeting  as  go  to  my  very  heart  and 
awaken  a  most  cordial  response  of  reciprocation. 

"As  to  the  long  tour  which  I  have  accomplished  I  shall 
have  other  occasions  on  which  to  address  you.  But  one  thing 
you  will  be  glad  to  know,  and  that  is  that  I  have  spent  six 
months  of  total  freedom  from  the  cares  which  for  over  thirteen 
years  have  pressed  upon  my  spirit.  It  is  my  good  fortune  to 
have  the  happy  faculty  of  being  altogether  in  the  place  where 
I  am ;  so  when  I  went  away  I  left  entirely.  For  my  church, 
for  my  family,  for  all  with  whom  I  was  connected,  I  made  the 
most  complete  arrangements  within  my  power.  I  knew  the 
officers  of  the  church.  I  knew  you.  I  knew  my  son  whom 
you  had  called  to  be  your  temporary  pastor.  I  knew  the  great 
Head  of  the  church.  I  knew  that  I  could  do  nothing  more 
for  you  before  my  return,  and  that  if  I  suffered  myself  to  be 
fretted  by  sohcitude  the  whole  intent  of  my  separation  from 
all  I  most  loved  would  be  defeated. 

"  My  friends,  if  I  had  gone  pleasure-seeking,  if  I  had  be- 
come tired  of  my  work  and  disgusted  with  the  Christian 
ministry,  if  I  had  fled  like  Jonah  from  some  divinely  imposed 
but  disagreeable  mission,  I  could  not  have  had  this  freedom 
from  care.  But  knowing  in  the  depths  of  my  heart  that  my 
tour  was  undertaken  in  the  interests  of  this  church  and  for  the 
increase  of  the  usefulness  of  my  future  ministry,  I  had  no  mis- 
givings and  no  anxiety.  Does  not  this  church  belong  to  the 
Lord?  Do  not  I  belong  to  the  Lord?  Will  he  not  care  for 
his  own  as  much  when  we  are  separated  as  when  we  are  to- 
gether ?  I  had  served  the  church  thirteen  years.  The  first 
eight  years  and  five  months  were  without  a  Sunday  of  vaca- 
tion. A  few  weeks  two  or  three  times  in  the  latter  years  had 
been  spent  out  of  the  city.  Such  continuance  in  labor  in  the 
same  sphere,  such  frequency  of  preaching  in  the  same  pulpit, 
summer  and  winter,  was  calculated  to  beget  sameness  and 


THE  INSTITUTE  OF  PHILOSOPHY  311 


dullness  and  running  in  ruts.  It  seemed  to  me  necessary  for 
my  mental  health  that  I  should  have  a  total  change  of  scene. 
So  I  went  into  a  desert  place  apart. 

"  If  the  first  motion  to  go  was  personal,  I  should  have  been 
exceedingly  obtuse  not  to  have  soon  seen  that  our  Lord  had 
designs  concerning  you  and  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  in 
this  temporary  separation.  Our  history  is  peculiar.  Your 
pastor  was  not  '  called,'  as  his  brethren  have  been,  to  the  pas- 
torate of  an  organized  church.  You  have  gathered  around 
me,  and  the  providence  of  God  has  raised  you  up  an  inde- 
pendent Christian  body,  an  ecclesiasticized  evangelical  alliance 
to  represent  the  charities  and  unities  of  Protestant  Christianity. 
From  time  to  time  it  has  been  predicted  that  the  experiment 
would  be  a  failure.  We  are  far  down-town.  There  is  no  church 
building  in  this  city  in  so  obscure  a  place  as  this.  No  street-cars 
nor  omnibuses  pass  in  front  of  us.  We  are  on  the  last  block 
of  a  street  which  is  not  long  and  is  occupied  by  business  houses. 
We  are  not  even  on  a  corner.  Such  is  now  the  position  of  our 
beautiful  church,  which  when  it  was  erected  was  the  cathedral 
of  Presbyterianism  in  America.  You  must  come  in  front  of 
it  to  see  it. 

"  Now,  whether  such  an  organized  Christian  society  as  ours, 
unconnected  with  any  of  the  sects,  could  sustain  itself  down- 
town is  a  question  which  has  exercised  many  persons.  For 
myself,  it  does  not  seem  a  matter  of  paramount  importance. 
If  the  Lord  has  no  need  of  this  church,  I  am  sure  that  I  have 
not ;  if  he  has,  he  will  take  care  of  his  own.  But  very  often 
it  was  not  only  insinuated,  but  asserted,  that  this  church  was 
kept  alive  by  the  exertions  of  the  pastor,  and  sometimes  that 
has  been  put  forth  as  a  compliment  to  me.  We  have  tested 
that  question.  I  have  not  written  you  a  line  of  direction  or 
advice  about  the  economies  of  the  church  during  my  absence, 
and  under  God  you  have  carried  the  church  along  quite  as 
well  as  I  have  ever  been  able  to  do.    So  in  the  future  I  shall 


312 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


be  relieved  of  any  anxiety  on  that  subject,  and  also  from 
similar  prophecies. 

"  If  I  have  had  no  anxiety  about  the  church,  dear  friends, 
I  have  not  suspended  my  affection  for  you.  My  eyes  have 
been  running  over  this  crowded  chapel  to-night,  and  their  re- 
port is  that  there  are  no  faces  present,  except  those  of  a  few 
visitors,  which  I  have  not  seen  with  the  eyes  of  my  heart  while 
riding  Egyptian  donkeys,  Arabian  camels,  or  Syrian  horses — 
faces  that  have  risen  up  before  me  as  I  have  gazed  on  the 
skies  which  hang  over  the  lands  made  holy  by  the  residence 
of  prophets  and  apostles  and  of  the  Son  of  God.  Now  my 
happiness  is  to  see  those  faces  once  more  '  in  the  flesh.' 

"  I  have  no  promises  to  make.  I  have  formed  no  new  reso- 
lutions. But  I  trust  that  all  that  I  have  seen  in  distant  lands, 
and  all  my  experiences,  may  come  out  in  my  future  ministry 
so  as  to  be  profitable  to  us  all.  My  heart  is  filled  with  delight 
at  your  unity  and  cooperation,  your  faith  and  zeal,  your  hope 
and  charity.  Some  have  left  us  and  gone  up  to  other  man- 
sions of  the  Father's  house.  You  will  follow  them.  When 
the  hour  of  your  departure  comes,  may  you  find  on  that  other 
shore,  as  I  found  on  landing,  friends  to  cluster  lovingly  about 
you,  and  amid  the  illumination  of  the  upper  temple  see  glow- 
ing with  the  light  of  love  for  you  the  words  which  you  have 
emblazoned  above  my  head  :  '  Welcome  home.' 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  my  dear  brother  who  has  addressed  me, 
dear  brothers  and  sisters  all,  I  thank  you  from  my  heart  of 
hearts  for  your  warm  and  generous  acts  and  words.  You 
know  how  I  feel  better  than  I  can  tell  you." 

The  Hon.  George  W.  Clarke,  of  the  Advisory  Council,  then 
delivered  an  address,  in  which  he  expressed  the  sentiments  of 
the  church  toward  Dr.  Deems's  son,  the  Rev.  Edward  M. 
Deems,  who  had  been  acting  pastor  during  his  father's  absence. 
A  generous  purse  accompanied  the  address,  and  Mr.  Deems's 
address  in  response  closed  the  speechmaking.    In  the  beauti- 


THE  INSTITUTE  OF  PHILOSOPHY 


313 


fully  decorated  church  parlor  refreshments  were  served,  and 
the  evening  was  spent  in  a  most  delightful  social  reunion.  On 
the  following  Sunday  the  church  was  thronged  with  people, 
and  there  was  held  one  of  the  most  tender  and  impressive  of 
communion  services. 

With  rejuvenated  powers  of  body  and  mind,  and  with  a 
mental  and  spiritual  horizon  widened  by  his  travels.  Dr.  Deems 
took  up  his  labors  in  the  pulpit,  parish,  and  elsewhere.  He 
frequently  said  that  he  tried  to  do  some  special  extra  work 
during  each  decade  of  his  life.  This  extra  professional  work 
during  the  decade  ending  with  1880  was  his  book  "Jesus." 
And  now  he  took  up  what  proved  to  be  the  special  fruit  of 
the  last  active  decade  of  his  life.  The  American  Institute 
of  Christian  Philosophy  stands  beside  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers  and  the  book  "Jesus  "  as  one  of  the  three  greatest 
achievements  of  his  beneficent  life. 

Those  who  would  know  the  complete  story  of  the  institute 
must  get  it  from  the  eleven  stately  volumes  in  which  are  bound 
the  numbers  of  "  Christian  Thought,"  which  for  ten  years  was 
the  institute's  organ. 

When  Dr.  Deems  attended  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Vic- 
toria Institute  in  London  in  1880,  and  saw  what  a  power  it 
was  as  a  creator  of  speech  and  literature  that  was  calculated 
to  be  an  antidote  to  the  false  philosophic  literature  of  the  day, 
the  question  was  suggested  to  his  mind,  "  Why  not  have  such 
a  society  in  the  United  States,  where  infidel  philosophy  finds 
a  growing  circle  of  readers?  "  One  of  his  characteristics  was 
promptly  to  turn  thought  into  action  and  organization.  He 
accordingly  arranged  for  a  course  of  lectures  at  Warwick 
Woodlands,  on  the  shores  of  Greenwood  Lake,  New  Jersey,  and 
secured  the  attendance  of  a  sufficient  number  of  scholarly  men 
to  test  the  desirability  and  practicability  of  organizing  in  our 
country  an  institute  similar  in  its  aims  and  work  to  the  Victoria 
Institute  of  Great  Britain. 


314 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


In  1 89 1  the  institute  issued  the  following  paper,  which, 
having  been  revised  by  Dr.  Deems  himself,  is  practically  his 
account  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  this  interesting  society. 

"what  is  the  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE  OF  CHRISTIAN 
PHILOSOPHY? 

"  Recently  a  very  intelligent  manufacturer  asked  whether 
there  is  any  organized  movement  to  antagonize  materialism 
and  other  forms  of  false  philosophy.  There  is,  and  the  fol- 
lowing is  an  account  of  its  origin  and  progress : 

"To  ascertain  whether  there  was  enough  interest  in  the 
subject  to  justify  an  attempt  to  form  a  society  specially  de- 
voted to  the  creation  and  distribution  of  a  literature  illustrating 
the  relations  between  science  and  religion,  in  the  summer  of 
1881,  at  Warwick  Woodlands,  on  Greenwood  Lake,  in  New 
Jersey,  there  was  delivered  a  course  of  lectures,  beginning  on 
the  12th  and  closing  on  the  22A  of  July.  The  following  were 
the  lecturers:  the  Rev.  Dr.  Deems,  of  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers ;  President  Noah  Porter,  of  Yale  College ;  Professor 
Borden  P.  Bowne,  of  Boston  University ;  Professor  Stephen 
Alexander  and  Professor  Charles  A.  Young,  of  Princeton  ;  the 
Rev.  Dr.  A.  H.  Bradford,  of  Montclair;  Professor  Alexander 
Winchell,  of  the  University  of  Michigan  ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman 
Abbott,  of  the  '  Christian  Union ' ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  H.  Mcll- 
vaine,  of  Newark,  N.  J. ;  Professor  B.  N.  Martin,  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York ;  and  Professor  John  Bascom,  of  the 
University  of  Wisconsin  ;  in  the  order  of  their  names. 

"The  whole  expense  of  this  course,  which  was  liberally 
maintained,  was  borne  by  Mr.  WiUiam  O.  McDowell,  of  New 
York. 

"  Organized  in  1881 
"It  was  so  successful  that  on  the  21st  of  July  a  meeting 
was  called  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  American  Insti- 


THE  hXSTITUTE  OF  PHlLOSOPIIY  315 

tute  of  Christian  Philosophy.  At  its  organization  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Deems  was  elected  provisional  president,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brad- 
ford provisional  secretary,  and  Mr.  William  O.  McDowell 
provisional  treasurer.  President  McCosh,  of  Princeton,  and 
President  Battle,  of  North  Carolina,  Bishop  Cheney,  of  Illinois, 
and  Bishop  McTyeire,  of  Tennessee,  Professor  Bascom,  of 
Wisconsin,  and  General  G.  W.  Custis  Lee,  of  Virginia,  were 
the  first  vice-presidents.  The  first  monthly  meeting  was  held 
at  Warwick  Woodlands  on  the  28th  of  August,  1881.  The 
second  was  held  on  the  29th  of  September,  1 881,  in  the  parlor 
of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  4  Winthrop  Place,  New  York. 
The  officers  of  that  church  generously  provided  an  office  and 
a  place  of  meeting  for  the  institute  from  the  second  monthly 
meeting  until  November,  1889,  when  the  meetings  were  held 
for  a  few  months  in  Association  Hall,  Twenty-third  Street  and 
Fourth  Avenue.  Since  June,  1890,  they  have  been  held  in 
Hamilton  Hall,  Columbia  College.  The  number  of  members 
to-day  exceeds  five  hundred,  including  many  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished thinkers  in  Europe  and  America. 

"  Papers  and  Lectures 
"  During  the  first  ten  years  monthly  meetings  have  been 
held  regularly  except  in  the  summer  months.  At  those  meet- 
ings there  have  been  seventy-seven  papers  read.  Two  sermons 
have  been  delivered  before  the  institute  in  New  York,  one  by 
the  late  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Harris,  of  the  diocese  of  Michigan, 
on  January  18,  1885,  in  St.  Thomas's  Church,  Fifth  Avenue, 
and  another  by  the  Rev.  James  R.  Day,  D.D.,  on  February 
21,  1886,  in  the  Madison  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Two  courses  of  lectures  were  delivered  in  the  Broadway  Taber- 
nacle Church  in  the  winters  of  1882-83  1883-84. 

"  Bis/wp  Potter 
"  At  the  delivery  of  Bishop  Harris's  sermon  Bishop  Potter 
presided,  and  followed  the  sermon  with  remarks  expressing  his 


316 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


interest  in  the  institute  and  its  work  and  his  hearty  cooperation 
with  it.  He  thanked  the  preacher  for  his  admirable  address, 
and  said  that  the  Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy  had  been 
organized  to  get  at  those  fundamental  truths  which  more  es- 
pecially concerned  society  and  men.  Its  members  were  not 
confined  to  any  denomination,  but  embraced,  in  addition  to 
various  bishops  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  eminent  scholars  and 
professors  throughout  the  country.  In  speaking  of  what  the 
institute  is  doing,  the  bishop  said  that  its  publications  had 
already  been  sought  for  by  some  of  the  scholars  in  Japan,  who 
were  now  especially  turning  their  thoughts  to  the  Christian 
religion  as  the  religion  of  the  country. 

"  Summer  Schools 

"  The  institute  has  held  fifteen  summer  schools,  the  first  and 
second  at  Warwick  Woodlands,  the  third  at  Atlantic  Highlands, 
the  fourth,  sixth,  and  eighth  at  Richfield  Springs,  the  eleventh 
at  Round  Lake,  the  seventh  at  Asbury  Park  and  Key  East, 
and  the  others  at  Avon-by-the-Sea,  N.  J.  At  these  schools 
one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  lectures  have  been  delivered, 
also  four  sermons. 

"  Colleges  Represented 
"  These  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  lectures  have  been 
prepared  with  great  care,  and  many  of  them  by  our  foremost 
thinkers.  The  lecturers  have  represented  the  following  col- 
leges, namely,  Bowdoin,  City  of  New  York,  Columbia,  Dickin- 
son, Emory,  Hamilton,  Lafayette,  Rutgers,  Smith,  St.  Stephen's, 
Trinity,  and  Tufts,  and  the  following  universities,  namely,  Bos- 
ton, Cornell,  Harvard,  New  York,  North  Carolina,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Princeton,  Texas,  Vanderbilt,  Virginia,  Wisconsin,  and 
Yale.  In  addition  to  the  presidents  and  professors  from  these 
colleges,  other  gentlemen  of  other  learned  professions  and 
intellectual  men  in  business  circles  have  contributed  to  the 


THE  INSTITUTE  OF  PHILOSOPHY  317 


literature  called  forth  by  the  institute,  among  them  the  distin- 
guished explorer,  Hormuzd  Rassam,  of  England,  and  the  acute 
thinker,  Ram  Chandra  Bose,  of  India. 

"  Chancellor  MacCracken 

"  These  valuable  productions  of  the  institute  have  been  issued 
periodically  and  now  constitute  eight  large  octavo  volumes,  of 
which  Dr.  MacCracken,  vice-chancellor  of  the  University  of 
the  City  of  New  York  and  professor  of  philosophy,  says, 
'  The  lectures  and  magazines  it  [the  institute]  gives  each  year 
are  themselves  almost  a  faculty  of  graduate  philosophy  for 
the  whole  country.'  The  lectures  and  other  papers  and  the 
transactions  are  issued  in  a  bimonthly  called  '  Christian 
Thought,'  a  copy  of  which  is  sent  to  all  members.  It  has  also 
a  large  list  of  subscribers  among  those  who  are  not  members 
of  the  institute. 

"An  Endowment  Fund  Needed 

"Attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  its  officers  serve  the 
institute  without  salary.  There  are  no  honorary  members. 
There  are  no  expenses  for  rent.  No  other  institute  can  be 
managed  more  economically.  All  the  income  from  member- 
ship fees  and  other  sources  is  employed  in  meeting  the  expenses 
of  the  monthly  meetings  and  summer  schools,  which  produce 
the  papers  and  lectures,  and  in  printing  and  distributing  this 
hterature.  There  are  schools  and  colleges  and  mission  stations 
making  appeals,  to  which  the  institute  cannot  respond.  An 
endowment  fund  has  been  begun,  which  now  amounts  to  over 
fifteen  thousand  dollars.  It  is  wisely  invested.  The  gift  of 
one  hundred  dollars  to  this  fund  makes  the  giver  a  life-member, 
and  he  thereafter  receives  all  the  publications.  One  thousand 
dollars  will  establish  a  lectureship  to  bear  the  donor's  name, 
and  he  may  annually  nominate  the  person  he  wishes  to  dehver 
the  lecture.  Thus  will  be  created  a  fountain  of  blessing  which 


318 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


will  continue  to  flow  when  those  living  now  shall  have  passed 
from  the  work  on  earth.  It  is  desired  to  make  this  fund  suf- 
ficiently large  and  productive  to  meet  all  expenses  of  the 
institute,  so  that  every  donation,  together  with  the  regular 
membership  fees,  may  be  devoted  to  the  distribution  of  our 
literature  in  all  lands. 

"  Results  Already  Accomplished 

"The  work  of  this  institute  cannot  be  computed  in  figures. 
It  has  made  a  noble  stand  against  materialism  and  all  other 
forms  of  false  philosophy.  It  has  presented  an  array  of  talent 
which  shows  the  world  that  all  the  brains  are  not  on  the  side 
of  those  who  scorn  or  neglect  our  holy  faith,  but  that  the  very 
best  intellects  of  the  world,  the  most  competent  judges  among 
men,  are  on  the  side  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  It  has 
strengthened  the  faith  and  courage  of  the  young  men  of  col- 
leges, among  whom  its  publications  have  been  distributed. 
A  physician  who  cures  many  patients  can  make  a  resounding 
reputation,  while  almost  none  but  the  most  thoughtful  place 
proper  value  on  sanitary  prevention.  Thus  the  institute  has 
not  attracted  the  attention  of  the  masses,  and  has  none  of  the 
aid  which  comes  to  other  institutions  by  reason  of  the  conspic- 
uousness  of  results.  It  must  therefore  appeal  for  its  support 
more  to  the  few  who  are  able  to  value  the  solidity  of  a  foun- 
dation than  to  the  many  who  casually  admire  the  beautiful 
outlines  of  a  structure  and  the  brilliant  frescos  on  its  ceilings. 

"  WJw  May  Become  Members 

"  The  institute  invites  to  its  membership  men  and  women, 
learned  and  unlearned,  who  wish  by  their  names  and  fees  to 
aid  in  its  good  work.  One  need  not  say  he  resides  too  far 
from  the  seat  of  the  institute  to  take  part  in  its  meetings,  and 
therefore  he  does  not  become  a  member.  He  will  receive  the 
publications  containing  all  its  papers  and  lectures,  and  by  his 


THE  INSTITUTE  OF  PHILOSOPHY  319 


fee  help  to  procure  them  for  his  brother  who  cannot  afford  such 
a  luxury.  The  institute  is  in  receipt  of  frequent  letters  from 
home  missionaries,  pastors  of  churches  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  professors  in  colleges,  whose  stipend  is  so  small  as  to  compel 
them  reluctantly  to  forego  or  to  drop  membership.  If  some  one 
would  send  one  hundred  dollars  twenty  such  names  could  be 
reinstated.  That  a  man  cannot  contribute  to  the  production  of 
its  literature  is  no  more  reason  for  that  man's  not  becoming  a 
member  of  the  institute  than  the  fact  that  he  cannot  produce 
such  writings  as  the  prophecies  of  Isaiah  or  the  epistles  of  Paul 
is  a  reason  for  his  not  becoming  a  member  of  the  American  Bible 
Society.  The  annual  fee  of  five  dollars  helps  to  stem  the  tide 
of  infidelity.  For  further  information  address  Mr.  Charles  M. 
Davis,  Secretary,  4  Winthrop  Place,  New  York." 

From  the  time  that  he  had  been  professor  of  logic  in  the 
University  of  North  Carohna  and  professor  of  natural  science 
in  Randolph-Macon  College,  Virginia,  Dr.  Deems  had  taken 
a  growing  interest  in  science  and  philosophy  ;  and  from  the  day 
of  his  conversion  his  interest  in  Christ  and  Christianity  had 
been  increasing.  So  it  was  with  a  large  measure  of  experience 
and  ability,  as  well  as  with  glowing  zeal,  that  Dr.  Deems 
nurtured  the  American  Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy,  a 
society  whose  supreme  aim  was  to  proclaim  and  enforce  the 
truth  that,  however  much  conflict  there  may  be  between  false 
science  and  dogmatic  theology,  there  is  perfect  harmony  be- 
tween real  science  and  the  religion  of  Christ  and  the  Bible. 

The  executive  work  of  the  institute  and  the  correspondence 
involved  in  making  out  the  annual  program  of  lecturers,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  work  of  editing  "  Christian  Thought,"  added 
much  to  his  regular  labors,  and  were  pecuniarily  expensive 
rather  than  remunerative  to  him.  But  it  was  a  labor  of  love 
with  him,  and  he  received  much  practical  help  from  his  faith- 
ful amanuensis,  Miss  Cecile  Sturtevant,  and  from  the  Rev. 


320 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Amory  H.  Bradford,  D.D.,  Secretary  Charles  M.  Davis,  As- 
sociate Secretary  the  Rev.  John  B.  Devins,  and  others.  Dur- 
ing Dr.  Deems's  illness  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Devins  had  the  entire 
charge  of  editing  "  Christian  Thought,"  and  otherwise  relieved 
the  president  of  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  institute. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Deems  and  the  generosity  of  Mr. 
Cornelius  Vanderbilt  and  others,  an  endowment  fund  for  the 
institute  was  started,  which  at  the  time  of  Dr.  Deems's  death 
amounted  to  over  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  The  last  two 
summer  schools  during  his  life  were  held  at  Prohibition  Park, 
Staten  Island.  During  the  last  summer  school,  held  in  August, 
1893,  Dr.  Deems,  for  the  first  time  since  the  institute  was 
founded,  was  absent ;  but  in  spirit  he  was  present.  As  his 
son  Edward  was  about  to  start  for  the  grounds,  Dr.  Deems 
with  extreme  difficulty  managed  to  send  this  message : 

"Tell  the  officers  and  members  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Christian  Philosophy  at  the  summer  school  that  in  spirit  I 
will  be  with  them  prompdy  at  every  meeting  of  the  session  ; 
that  I  am  working  for  them  daily  by  striving  to  secure  mem- 
bers for  the  institute  and  subscribers  for  '  Christian  Thought,' 
and  by  sending  out  the  circulars  which  tell  of  the  objects  and 
work  of  this  institute.  My  hands,  in  the  providence  of  God, 
are  tied.  Tell  them,"  he  said  distinctly,  "  tell  the  officers  and 
members  to  select  another  president,  an  active  president,  and 
to  work  more ;  tell  officers  and  members  to  ivork  more." 

When  the  good  president  passed  away  it  was  realized  how 
difficult  a  task  it  would  be  to  fill  his  place.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Amory  H.  Bradford  was  persuaded  to  accept  the  presidency 
for  one  year.  Then  Henry  M.  MacCracken,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
chancellor  of  the  University  of  New  York,  was  made  president. 
The  summer  schools  of  1 894  and  1 89  5  were  held  at  Chautauqua 
I.ake.  But  the  future  of  the  institute  became  more  and  more 
problematic.  About  this  time,  however,  a  letter  from  Dr. 
Deems,  found  among  his  effects  after  his  decease,  was  brought 


THE  INSTITUTE  OF  PHILOSOPHY 


321 


to  light  and  materially  helped  the  officers  of  the  institute  to 
shape  its  future  course.  This  letter  was  directed  to  Charles 
M.  Davis,  so  many  years  the  institute's  faithful  secretary,  Dr. 
Alexander  Mackay-Smith,  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  and  the  Rev. 
Edward  M.  Deems.    It  reads  as  follows: 

"  My  Friends  and  Brothers  :  I  prepare  a  paper  which 
you  will  not  see  until  my  eyes  are  closed  in  death.  The  fact 
that  it  is  addressed  to  you  shows  my  confidence  in  your 
brotherly  affection,  discreet  judgment,  and  Christian  faith. 

"  More  than  most  other  men,  you  know  what  has  been  in 
my  heart  in  all  the  work  I  have  bestowed  upon  the  American 
Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy.  I  know  nothing  in  this 
world  can  run  on  in  the  same  courses  forever.  It  may  be- 
come expedient  that  the  machinery  for  doing  our  work  may 
have  to  be  altered,  that  the  time  may  come  when  something 
must  be  substituted  for  the  monthly  meetings  and  the  annual 
summer  schools  of  the  institute.  It  may  be  that  a  course  of 
lectures  delivered  each  year  by  some  able  man  may  be  the 
institute's  contribution  to  our  most  holy  faith.  I  have  seen 
the  folly  of  the  attempt  of  men  to  stretch  their  hands  from 
out  their  graves  to  push  back  the  inevitable  or  to  preserve 
unaltered  something  which,  however  good  for  its  time,  could 
not  be  useful  for  all  time. 

"  I  simply  want  to  say  that  if  you  survive  me  I  do  not  wish 
for  a  single  moment  that  any  sentimental  regard  for  plans 
which  I  have  formed  and  prosecuted  shall  keep  you  from 
making  such  alterations  in  the  work  of  the  institute  as  shall  be 
adapted  to  the  time.  My  sole  desire  is  that  any  moneys  which 
I  have  collected  and  any  prestige  which  I  have  created  for 
the  institute  shall  be  wisely  used  to  promote  the  knowledge  of 
'  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,'  in  ways  best  adapted  to  that  end, 
from  time  to  time. 

"  Perhaps  this  letter  is  an  impertinent  assumption.    It  will 


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CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Stand,  however,  as  a  slight  testimonial  of  my  great  respect  and 
unfeigned  affection  for  you,  who  have  been  my  helpers  in  this 
department  of  my  work  for  the  divine  Master. 

"  Charles  F.  Deems." 

No  one  can  read  this  document,  written  in  April,  1892, 
eight  months  before  he  was  paralyzed,  without  being  struck 
by  the  sweetness  of  spirit  and  breadth  and  profundity  of  judg- 
ment of  its  author.  Helped  to  a  decision  by  this  letter,  the 
institute  took  steps  which  resulted  in  the  fifteen-thousand-dollar 
endowment  fund  being  given  to  the  University  of  the  City  of 
New  York,  to  establish  a  "  Deems  Lectureship  of  Philosophy." 
And  this  lectureship  is  the  fruit  of  Dr.  Deems's  prayers  and 
toils  as  founder  and  president  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Christian  Philosophy, 


CHAPTER  XIV 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT,  1881-93 


HE  Story  of  the  twelve  years  of  Dr.  Deems's  life  from 


1  1880  to  1892  may  be  summed  up  in  one  word,  Tvork. 
"  Never  hasting,  never  resting,"  Goethe's  motto,  would  have 
been  a  most  appropriate  motto  for  Dr.  Deems  at  this  period. 
His  legitimate  work  as  a  preacher  and  pastor  received  the 
most  and  the  best  of  his  time,  brains,  and  toil ;  what  was  left 
of  time  and  energy  he  gave  to  his  duties  as  president  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy,  editor  of  "  Chris- 
tian Thought,"  trustee  of  the  American  Tract  Society,  member 
of  the  council  of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York, 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance 
in  the  United  States,  lecturer,  writer  for  periodicals,  and  author 
of  several  books.  He  lived  before  and  for  the  public,  an 
entry  in  his  journal  for  January  28,  1886,  being  significant: 
"  In  the  house  all  the  evening.    Wonderful! " 

His  native  wit  and  keen  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  combined 
with  a  hopeful  disposition  and  a  childlike  trust  in  God,  saved 
him  from  breaking  down  earlier  than  he  did  under  the  strain 
to  which  he  subjected  himself.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Howard  Crosby 
and  he,  in  conversation  one  day,  agreed  that  the  reason  why 
they  stood  up  under  the  strain  of  the  intense  life  of  a  New 
York  City  pastor,  while  others  broke  down  or  died,  was  that 
they  worked  without  worry ;  that  it  is  worry,  not  work,  that 
kills  most  active  men. 


323 


324 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Speaking  of  Dr.  Crosby,  whom  Dr.  Deems  admired  and 
loved,  suggests  one  of  the  sunny  features  of  these  last  years 
of  the  latter's  life ;  we  refer  to  the  Philothean  Club,  a  circle 
of  ministers,  who  met  at  the  homes  of  the  members  every 
Saturday  afternoon,  and,  after  business  and  the  discussion  of 
a  paper,  enjoyed  a  feast  of  reason  and  a  flow  of  soul  around 
the  dinner-table.  Strong  friendships  were  here  formed  and 
old  friendships  were  strengthened.  Nor  is  this  to  be  wondered 
at  when  it  is  remembered  that  among  the  members  of  "  Philo  " 
were  such  men  as  Crosby,  Robinson,  Watkins,  Bridgman, 
Page,  Sabine,  Warren,  Mandeville,  Payson,  Martyn,  SchaufBer, 
Virgin,  Bevan,  Roe,  Gregg,  and  Sanders.  The  meetings  of 
Philo  were  used  as  a  clearing-house  for  the  ludicrous  experi- 
ences and  the  good  jests  and  jokes  of  its  members.  It  was 
after  one  of  these  meetings  that  Dr.  Deems  came  home  and 
said  that  Dr.  Crosby  had  slandered  him  by  accusing  him  of 
"taking  up  collections  at  funerals."  Doubtless  Dr.  Deems 
had  a  ready  reply,  for  he  was  gifted  in  repartee. 

We  recall  a  few  of  his  bright  sayings  with  which,  for  himself 
and  others,  he  used  to  beguile  life's  way  of  its  tedium. 

A  lady  who  was  brought  through  a  season  of  great  despon- 
dency and  grief  by  his  sympathy,  prayers,  counsel,  and  practi- 
cal aid  said  to  him  a  few  years  afterward,  "  Doctor,  do  you 
remember  how  I  used  to  wish  I  was  dead?"  With  a  look 
very  different  from  the  words,  he  flashed  back,  "Yes,  and 
everybody  else  wished  so  too." 

At  a  marriage  ceremony  which  he  was  conducting  the  rats 
in  the  ceihng  kept  up  a  most  annoying  accompaniment.  When 
some  one  spoke  of  it  afterward  he  said,  "  Yes,  I  noticed  the 
marriage  was  being  ratified  on  earth." 

Once,  after  being  absent  from  the  city,  an  intimate  friend 
called  on  him,  and  was  received  with  these  words :  "  Now 
come,  tell  me  where  you  have  been  these  ten  days."  "  Well, 
doctor,"  was  the  reply,  "  I  have  been  to  Stonington,  and  it 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT 


325 


rained  every  day  while  I  was  there! "  "Ah,"  said  he,  his  eyes 
twinkhng  with  fun,  "that  was  your  reign  in  Stonington!" 

In  the  midst  of  an  eloquent  temperance  speech  he  was  once 
interrupted  by  some  one  putting  the  question,  "  But  suppose 
we  can't  elect  the  best  man?  "  The  answer  was  flashed  back 
without  a  second's  hesitation,  "  I  am  not  required  to  elect,  but 
to  vote  for,  the  best  man." 

As  a  raconteur  few  men  of  his  day  could  surpass  him,  and 
his  journal  shows  in  what  demand  he  was  as  an  after-dinner 
speaker  at  alumni,  club,  and  other  banquets.  When  he  told 
a  story  it  was  evident  that  no  one  enjoyed  it  more  than  he. 
His  lively  imagination  and  inventive  talent  led  him  to  embelhsh 
and  improve  on  the  stories  he  had  read  or  heard ;  and  when 
his  family  or  friends  would  twit  him  on  having  changed  his 
story  he  would  invariably  reply,  "  It  is  one  of  the  fundamental 
rules  for  telling  a  story  never  to  tell  it  in  the  same  way  twice." 

It  was  largely  on  account  of  his  cheerfulness  and  wit  that 
he  made  friends  so  quickly  with  children  and  young  people, 
and,  indeed,  with  everybody  whom  he  met  who  was  not  im- 
pervdous  to  sunshine.  In  the  New  York  Hotel,  where  with 
his  good  wife  he  lived  from  March  30,  1889,  until  he  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  December  27,  1892,  it  was  a  common 
saying  that  everybody  loved  Dr.  Deems,  from  the  boot-black 
in  the  basement  up  to  the  proprietor. 

His  love  for  young  people  found,  shortly  after  his  return 
from  the  Holy  Land,  a  worthy  object.  On  February  2,  1881, 
a  wave  of  youthful  devotion  started  in  Maine  and  rolled  west- 
ward. He  saw  it  coming,  and  when  it  reached  him  mounted 
its  crest  and  rode  it  until  the  Everlasting  Arm  reached  down 
and  under  him  and  lifted  him  to  glory  ineffable  and  unending. 
Dr.  Deems  loved  and  was  beloved  by  the  Young  People's 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor.  The  young  people  of  his 
parish  and  of  the  land  appreciated  his  affection  for  them  and 
his  aid  to  their  cause.    Many  more  invitations  than  he  could 


326 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


respond  to  were  extended  to  him  to  address  societies  and  local 
and  national  conventions  of  the  Young  People's  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor. 

Dr.  Deems  derived  especial  pleasure  from  his  visit  to 
the  international  convention  of  the  Young  People's  Society 
of  Christian  Endeavor  held  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.  With  a 
train-load  of  delegates,  he  vi^as  delayed  nearly  two  days  en 
route.  In  the  entry  in  his  journal  for  July  9,  1 891,  he  writes  : 
"  Great  delay.  We  should  be  in  Minneapolis,  and  here  we 
are  a  day  away.  But  the  company  are  behaving  beautifully 
and  we  are  a  happy  band  of  Christians."  At  the  railway 
station  at  Durand  the  Endeavorers  alighted  from  the  train 
and  joined  enthusiastically  in  an  open-air  meeting  that  was 
being  held  by  the  Salvation  Army.  Being  called  upon  to 
address  the  meeting.  Dr.  Deems  gave  all  his  powers  free  play 
and  made  the  scene  one  long  to  be  remembered  as  a  little 
foretaste  of  heaven. 

With  his  passion  for  improving  opportunities  and  organizing 
forces,  Dr.  Deems  led  in  the  formation  on  the  train  of  what 
is  known  among  Christian  Endeavorers  as  the  "  Soo  Tribe," 
because  organized  while  traveling  on  the  "  Soo "  (Sault  Ste. 
Marie)  route  to  Minneapolis.  The  Soos  were  wonderfully 
drawn  together  and  to  their  "  chief "  by  the  experiences  of 
this  memorable  trip,  and  still  maintain  a  happy  esprit  de  corps. 

When  the  great  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor international  convention  was  held  in  New  York  City, 
July  7,  1892,  Dr.  Deems  was  greatly  gratified  by  being  chosen 
to  deliver  the  address  of  welcome  on  behalf  of  the  pastors  of 
New  York  City.  In  his  address,  after  giving  in  complimen- 
tary terms  his  estimate  of  the  body  of  men  he  represented,  he 
expressed  his  opinion  of  the  institution  represented  by  the 
magnificent  assemblage  in  Madison  Square  Garden,  which 
numbered  between  fifteen  and  twenty  thousand  people.  Dr. 
Deems's  opinion  of  the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT 


827 


Endeavor  as  expressed  on  this  occasion  lies  in  this  sentence 
uttered  by  him :  "  The  spirit  of  this  society,  more  than  any 
other  found  on  earth  in  this  nineteenth  century,  reminds  one 
of  Christ's  Christianity."  Dr.  Deems  wrote  for  the  Endea- 
vorers  the  following  stirring  hymn,  which  was  sung  at  this 
convention  by  the  vast  chorus  of  youthful  voices  to  the  tune 
of  "  The  Star-spangled  Banner."  There  is  something  won- 
derfully stirring  in  this  shout  of  the  spiritual  warrior  within  a 
few  months  of  his  being  stricken  down  in  the  midst  of  the 
battle. 

"  THE  BANNER  OF  JESUS 

"  See,  see,  comrades!  see,  floating  high  in  the  air, 

The  love-woven,  blood-sprinkled  banner  of  Jesus! 
The  symbol  of  hope,  beating  down  all  despair. 
From  sin  and  its  thraldom  triumphantly  frees  us. 
By  the  hand  that  was  pierced 
It  was  lifted  at  first. 
When  the  bars  of  the  grave  by  our  Captain  were  burst. 

Refrain  : 

"  That  blood-sprinkled  banner  must  yet  be  unfurled 
O'er  the  homes  of  all  men  and  the  thrones  of  the  world. 

"  Shout,  shout,  comrades!  shout,  that  our  Captain  and  Lord 
That  standard  of  hope  first  intrusted  to  woman ; 
And  Mary,  dear  saint,  in  obeying  his  word 

Flung  out  its  wide  folds  over  all  that  is  human : 
So  there  came  to  embrace 
That  sweet  ensign  of  grace 
All  the  true  and  the  great,  all  the  best  of  our  race. 

"  March,  march,  comrades!  march,  all  the  young,  all  the  old, 
The  army  of  Christ  and  of  Christian  Endeavor ; 
With  heroes  our  souls  having  now  been  enrolled, 
Our  banner  we'll  follow  for  ever  and  ever. 
For  our  march  shall  not  cease 
Till  the  gospel  of  peace 
Shall  our  race  in  all  lands  from  its  tyrant  release." 


328 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


While  lending  a  helping  hand  to  other  good  causes  during 
the  last  and  best  years  of  his  life,  Dr.  Deems  never  lost  sight 
of  nor  neglected  that  cause  which,  as  we  have  seen,  drew  out 
his  first  public  efforts  as  a  writer  for  the  press— the  cause  of 
temperance.  Temperance  never  had  a  more  loyal  friend  than 
Dr.  Deems.  When  the  angel  of  death  came  in  November, 
1893,  and  announced  to  him  that  at  the  close  of  the  seventy- 
third  year  of  his  life  God  had  promoted  him  to  the  higher 
experiences  and  activities  of  heaven,  it  found  him,  by  tongue 
and  pen,  by  preaching,  praying,  voting,  and  every  other  means, 
doing  all  that  he  could  to  destroy  that  remorseless  enemy  of 
society,  the  liquor  traffic,  and  thus  to  glorify  God  by  saving 
souls  from  the  drunkard's  ruinous  career  and  destiny. 

Devotion  to  the  cause  of  temperance,  although  more  con- 
spicuous in  his  riper  years  of  life,  was  no  late  fancy  nor  passing 
whim.  His  first  survey  of  human  society,  taken  as  it  was 
through  the  atmosphere  of  a  Christian  home,  made  his  heart 
ache  over  men's  sufferings  from  strong  drink,  and  made  his 
whole  soul  indignant  at  that  fatuity  of  human  society  and 
government  which  tolerates  in  Christendom,  in  the  nineteenth 
century,  a  habit  and  a  traffic  so  inimical  to  God  and  so  bitterly 
hostile  to  all  the  interests  of  mankind. 

Referring  to  Dr.  Deems's  autobiographical  notes,  the  reader 
may  see  that  while  only  thirteen  years  of  age  he  delivered  at 
Elk  Ridge,  and  elsewhere  in  Maryland,  temperance  addresses. 
Let  the  children  who  may  read  these  pages  learn  how  early 
one  may  begin  to  help  in  this  good  work ;  and  let  parents,  as 
they  note  how  this  child  was  formed  to  temperance  ideas 
and  habits  by  his  parents,  learn  how  much  more  hope  of  suc- 
cess lies,  for  the  friends  of  temperance,  in  formation  than  in 
reformation.  Grateful  to  godly  parents  for  what  they  had 
done  for  him  in  this  direction,  Dr.  Deems  to  the  end  of  his 
career,  while  favoring  the  reformation  of  drunkards  by  every 
possible  means,  yet  emphasized  the  formation  of  temperance 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT 


329 


ideas  and  habits,  and  for  this  formation  trusted  in  part  to 
education  at  home  and  at  school,  but  chiefly  to  the  regenerat- 
ing and  sanctifying  power  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Referring  again  to  his  autobiographical  notes,  the  reader 
may  find  that  in  1852,  in  the  vigor  of  his  young  manhood,  he 
was  still  an  enthusiastic  but  practical  worker  for  the  temper- 
ance cause  ;  for  in  that  year  he  started  and  edited  the  "  Ballot- 
box,"  one  of  the  first  organs,  if  not  the  very  first  organ,  of 
those  who  believe  in  legislation  as  a  help  to  the  solution  of  the 
liquor  problem.  In  1852,  also,  Dr.  Deems  inaugurated  a 
movement  which  resulted  in  a  memorial  going  to  the  legisla- 
ture of  North  Carolina  on  the  subject  of  the  legal  prohibition 
of  the  liquor  traffic,  signed  by  over  fifteen  thousand  people. 
Now,  when  we  remember  that  it  was  not  until  two  years  later, 
namely,  in  1854,  that  in  the  State  of  Maine  prohibitory  laws 
against  the  liquor  traffic  went  into  effect,  we  see  that  Dr. 
Deems  is  worthy  to  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  pmieers  of 
the  legal  prohibition  movement.  And  the  longer  he  lived  and 
studied  this  problem,  and  the  more  closely  he  came  in  touch 
with  the  practical  effects  of  alcohoHc  stimulants,  the  deeper 
grew  his  convictions,  the  more  frequent  and  eloquent  his  ap- 
peals, and  the  more  persistent  and  practical  his  efforts,  to 
abohsh,  first,  indeed,  by  moral  suasion,  but  also  by  legal  sua- 
sion, that  most  successful  enemy  of  God  and  human  hearts 
and  homes,  the  accursed  liquor  business. 

During  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  Dr.  Deems,  from  being 
an  independent  voter,  became  a  voter  with  the  Prohibition 
party.  But  he  did  not  regard  that  party  as  perfect  or  worthy 
of  a  blind  following,  frequently  saying,  "  I  will,  other  things 
being  equal,  vote  with  any  party  which  has  in  its  platform  a 
plank  favoring  the  prohibition  of  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
liquor  for  use  as  a  beverage."  Dr.  Deems,  in  joining  the 
Prohibition  party,  gave  in  an  article  written  for  the  "  Voice  " 
this  reason  for  taking  the  step :  "  Heretofore  I  have  belonged 


330 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


to  no  party,  voting  for  Republican  or  Democrat  according  to 
the  character  of  the  candidates  when  I  have  voted  at  all.  Now 
I  am  a  Prohibitionist  simply  and  solely  because  I  see  no  other 
way  of  destroying  the  saloons  which  are  destroying  our  people 
—no  other  way  except  by  a  revolution  and  bloodshed,  and 
this  I  deprecate  ;  but  the  saloons  must  be  swept  away." 

Of  course  Dr.  Deems's  wisdom  and  eloquence  made  him  to 
be  much  in  demand  as  a  temperance  orator,  and  his  journal 
is  full  of  records  of  temperance  addresses  delivered  in  various 
parts  of  the  Union  during  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life.  In  an 
address  on  temperance  which  he  delivered  on  several  occasions 
he  dealt  with  the  liquor  question,  first,  as  of  universal  interest ; 
secondly,  as  a  question  of  political  economy  transcending  in 
importance  civil-service  reform,  ballot  protection,  the  tariff, 
and  other  great  questions  receiving  at  the  time  attention  in 
America ;  thirdly,  with  reference  to  the  character  of  the  men 
engaged  as  being  unchristian,  dishonest  (because  dealing  in 
adulterated  goods),  and  defiers  of  the  law ;  and  fourthly,  he 
put  the  question.  What  is  to  be  done?  Then  he  gave  the  two 
answers:  (i)  Regulate  and  restrict  the  liquor  traffic  by  high- 
license  laws.  (2)  Prohibit  the  traffic.  The  latter  course  he 
favored  as  the  true  course,  whether  it  succeeded  or  not,  be- 
cause it  has  these  advantages:  (i)  It  will  withhold  sanction 
of  a  wicked  traffic.  (2)  It  will  discountenance  that  traffic.  (3) 
It  will  educate  the  people.  (4)  It  will  give  moral  dignity  to 
the  nation.  The  objections  raised  are  equally  applicable  to 
the  decalogue,  which  never  has  been  enforced.  The  address 
was  closed  substantially  as  follows : 

"There  was  once  an  old  Roman  senator  who  was  accus- 
tomed to  conclude  every  speech  he  made  in  the  senate  with 
these  words:  'Carthago  delenda  est!' — 'Carthage  must  be 
destroyed! '  He  knew  that  so  long  as  Carthage  existed  Rome 
would  have  woe.  For  the  new  party  I  would  have  the  watch- 
word, 'Caupona  delenda  est!'— 'The  saloon  must  be  de- 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT 


331 


stroyed ! '  and  I  would  set  aside  every  other  issue  until  the 
country  did  see  the  saloon  destroyed." 

On  the  evening  of  October  3,  1887,  there  assembled  in  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers  a  notable  gathering.  It  had  been 
called  together  by  the  officers  of  the  church,  and  its  object 
was  to  celebrate  the  close  of  twenty-one  years  of  pastorate  of 
Dr.  Deems.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Armitage,  D.D.,  LL.D. 
(Baptist),  presided,  and  the  vice-presidents  were  his  honor 
the  mayor,  Abram  S.  Hewitt,  Esq.,  William  E.  Dodge, 
Esq.,  Ex.  Norton,  Esq.,  R.  R.  McBurney,  Esq.,  Hon. 
Stewart  L.  Woodford,  Hon.  Thomas  F.  Bayard,  John  H. 
Inman,  Esq.,  Hon.  O.  B.  Potter,  Hon.  Roger  A.  Pryor,  Hon. 
Algernon  S.  Sullivan,  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  Esq.,  General 
Clinton  B.  Fisk,  James  Talcott,  Esq.  The  vice-presidents 
were  either  present  and  spoke  in  the  course  of  the  evening, 
or  else  sent  letters  of  warmest  congratulation  and  commenda- 
tion for  Dr.  Deems  and  his  work.  Addresses  breathing  the 
sincere  spirit  of  brotherly  love  and  expressive  of  appreciation 
of  Dr.  Deems's  gifts  and  labors  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Armitage  (Baptist),  Philip  Schaff  (Presbyterian),  Mackay-Smith 
(Protestant  Episcopal),  William  M.  Taylor  (Congregationalist), 
John  M.  Reid  (Methodist  Episcopal),  William  Ormiston  (Re- 
formed Dutch),  Wilbur  F.  Watkins  (Protestant  Episcopal), 
Howard  Crosby  (Presbyterian),  and  Gustav  Gottheil  (rabbi, 
Temple  Emanu-El).  At  the  opening  of  the  services  the  Scrip- 
tures were  read  by  Vice-Chancellor  Henry  M.  MacCracken 
(now  chancellor),  of  the  University  of  New  York,  and  prayer 
was  offered  by  the  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Presbyterian  Church.  The  names  of  those  who  took 
part  in  this  service  are  an  eloquent  tribute  both  to  Dr.  Deems's 
catholicity  of  spirit  and  to  his  ability  and  success  as  a  pastor 
and  preacher. 

A  fehcitous  reply  by  Dr.  Deems  followed,  in  which,  with 
evident  emotion,  he  thanked  his  brethren,  and  toward  the 


332 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


close  of  which  he  said :  "  Now,  all  I  can  say  in  conclusion  is 
that  you  have  put  me  under  bonds  to  be  good,  and  I  will 
strive  to  be.  Having  tried  to  be  modest  for  two  or  three 
hours,— and  modesty  is  only  one  characteristic  of  goodness,— 
and  having  found  it  so  hard,  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall  find  it 
extremely  difficult  to  come  up  to  the  standard  set  to-night. 
I  will  endeavor  to  do  my  best.  I  do  not  suppose  that  I  shall 
be  any  taller  next  Sunday  when  I  come  to  this  pulpit.  Cer- 
tainly I  shall  not  stand  on  a  stool,  as  has  been  suggested  by  a 
gifted  brother.  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  standing  on  anything 
to  make  me  taller." 

Busy  as  he  was  during  his  last  years  in  the  pulpit  and  pas- 
torate and  on  the  platform.  Dr.  Deems  found  time  for  much 
literary  work,  as  he  wrote  for  periodicals  and  published  three 
new  books. 

In  January,  1881,  appeared  the  first  number  of  the  "  Chris- 
tian Worker,"  an  eight-page  illustrated  religious  paper.  It  was 
and  still  is  the  organ  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers.  Mrs. 
Sara  Keables  Hunt,  a  devoted  and  valued  member  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers,  was  appointed  editor,  and  still  holds 
that  position,  which  she  has  filled  with  ability,  making  the 
"  Christian  Worker  "  one  of  the  best  fruits  of  the  church.  In 
it  appeared  not  only  Dr.  Deems's  monthly  report  of  his  work 
as  pastor,  but  also  many  articles  from  his  pen. 

As  president  of  the  American  Institute  of  Christian  Philos- 
ophy and  editor  of  "  Christian  Thought "  he  wrote  a  number 
of  articles  along  the  line  of  the  harmony  of  science  and  rehgion. 
Several  books  written  by  Dr.  Deems  were  pubhshed  during 
this  period.  "  The  Deems  Birthday  Book,"  arranged  by  Sara 
Keables  Hunt,  contains  about  five  hundred  brief  extracts  culled 
from  the  best  of  Dr.  Deems's  writings.  It  was  published  in 
1882.  In  1885  a  new  edition  of  his  sermons  was  pubhshed. 
In  1887  "A  Romance  of  Providence,  being  a  History  of  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers,"  appeared.    It  was  edited  by  Mr. 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT 


333 


Joseph  S.  Taylor,  but  involved  no  inconsiderable  amount  of 
work  on  Dr.  Deems's  part.  "  The  Gospel  of  Common  Sense 
as  Contained  in  the  Canonical  Epistle  of  James,"  a  volume  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty-two  pages,  was  published  in  1 888. 
This  work  was  followed  up  in  1891  by  a  companion  book 
entitled,  "  The  Gospel  of  Spiritual  Insight,  being  Studies  in 
the  Gospel  of  John."  Both  these  works  received  high  en- 
comiums from  the  press  of  America  and  Great  Britain. 

"  Chips  and  Chunks  for  Every  Fireside,"  a  handsome  illus- 
trated volume  of  six  hundred  and  forty  pages,  was  published 
as  a  subscription  book  in  1890.  It  contained  not  so  much  new 
matter  as  a  careful  selection  and  orderly  arrangement  of  articles, 
essays,  and  booklets,  not  including  sermons,  which  Dr.  Deems 
had  in  preceding  years  given  to  the  public.  It  was  meant  to 
be,  as  the  author  puts  it  in  his  preface,  "  a  book  for  homes." 

The  introduction  to  "  Chips  and  Chunks "  was  written  by 
Dr.  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  and  we  insert  it  here  as  being  an 
estimate  of  Dr.  Deems  by  an  able,  practical,  and  successful 
business  man : 

"  In  dictating  an  introduction  to  this  work  I  am  actuated 
by  two  motives— personal  friendship  for  the  author  and  ad- 
miration for  his  book. 

"  The  work  has  been  lying  upon  my  desk  for  several  weeks, 
and  I  have  taken  it  up  at  various  times,  dipping  into  it  here 
and  there,  as  a  busy  man  naturally  would.  I  have  been  im- 
pressed with  the  wide  range  of  Dr.  Deems's  studies,  the 
breadth  of  his  sympathies,  and  his  wise  way  of  putting  things. 

"  The  doctor  has  been  a  man  of  great  activity  and  a  multi- 
farious author ;  but  while  with  most  authors  their  utterances 
are  purely  ephemeral,  the  doctor  manages  to  put  into  every 
article  from  his  pen  something  worth  preserving.  It  is  well 
known  that  Dr.  Deems  had  the  confidence  of  Commodore 
Vanderbilt,  whose  practical  judgment  was  probably  keener 


834 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


and  more  accurate  than  that  of  any  other  man  who  ever  lived 
in  this  country,  and  upon  the  doctor's  advice  the  commodore 
spent  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  for  beneficent  objects. 

"The  qualities  which  impressed  Dr.  Deems  upon  Commo- 
dore Vanderbilt  and  also  upon  his  son,  William  H.,  are  every- 
where evident  in  this  book — honesty  of  purpose,  a  clear  con- 
ception of  the  object  in  view,  lucidity  of  statement,  and  wisdom 
of  suggestion.  I  am  sure  that  this  work  will  be  found  of  value 
in  the  home  circle,  both  to  the  old  and  to  the  young. 

"  Chauncey  M.  Depew." 

In  March,  1892,  the  "Evening  World"  offered  a  prize  of 
twenty  dollars  in  gold  for  the  best  article  on  "  How  to  Manage 
a  Wife."  Dr.  Deems  appeared  as  happy  as  a  boy  prize-winner 
at  school  when  he  was  informed  that  he  had  won  the  prize. 
His  article  was  as  follows : 

"Manage?  What  is  that?  Does  it  mean  to  control? 
We  manage  a  horse.  We  use  our  superior  human  intellect  to 
control  and  guide  his  superior  physical  strength  so  as  to  obtain 
the  best  results.  But  a  wife  is  not  a  horse.  When  two  persons 
are  well  married  the  wife  is  as  superior  to  her  husband  in  many 
respects  as  he  is  superior  to  her  in  others.  If  happiness  is  to 
be  the  result  of  the  union  the  first  business  of  the  husband  is 
to  manage  himself  so  as  to  keep  himself  always  the  wife's 
respectful  friend,  always  her  tender  lover,  always  her  equal 
partner,  always  her  superior  protector.  This  will  necessarily 
stimulate  his  wife  to  be  always  his  admiring  friend,  always  his 
affectionate  sweetheart,  always  his  thrifty  housewife,  always 
his  confiding  ward.  And  this  will  so  react  upon  the  husband 
that  his  love  for  his  wife  will  grow  so  as  to  make  it  easy  for 
him,  with  all  his  faults,  to  bear  with  all  the  infirmities  of  his 
'  one  and  only '  wife. 

"A  Joiner," 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT 


335 


In  the  spring  of  1892  Dr.  Deems  copyrighted  the  last  book 
he  ever  published,  "  IMy  Septuagint."  In  this  volume  of  two 
hundred  and  eight  pages,  daintily  bound  in  white  and  gold, 
Dr.  Deems  wTites  this  brief  preface :  "The  name  of  this  book 
suggested  itself  to  my  mind  because  what  it  contains  has  been 
written  since  the  seveyitieth  anniversary  of  my  birthday.  That 
is  all."  The  volume  is  inscribed,  "To  the  memory  of  the 
seventy  men,  all  departed  this  life,  personal  contact  with  whom 
now  seems  to  have  been  most  influential  for  good  in  the  forma- 
tion of  my  character  and  the  furtherance  of  my  career."  Then 
follow  the  names— a  notable  list  of  good  and  great  men  who 
Uved  in  America  and  Europe.  "  At  Seventy-one,"  "  The 
Present  Outlook  in  Theology,"  "George  Washington,"  "Ad- 
dress of  Welcome  to  the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor,"  and  "  Mr.  Markham's  Dream "  (a  temperance 
allegory)  are  the  titles  of  some  of  the  chapters.  Several  new 
hymns  appeared  in  the  volume.  One  we  insert  as  being 
prophetic : 

"  THE  LIGHT  IS  AT  THE  END 

"  At  the  thought  of  love  eternal 
Time  began  its  course  in  night ; 
'Twas  the  evening  and  the  morning, 
First  the  darkness,  then  the  light. 
Let  us  not  grow  weary  watching 
In  the  shadows  God  may  send ; 
Darkness  cannot  last  forever, 

And  the  light  is  at  the  end. 
Refrain  : 
Go  bravely  through  the  darkness, 
For  the  light  is  at  the  end. 

"  On  the  paths  we  now  are  walking 
Our  great  Master's  feet  have  trod; 
And  each  weary,  faltering  footstep 
Brings  us  nearer  to  our  God. 


336 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Then  in  passing  through  the  valley, 

When  the  shadows  o'er  us  bend, 
Let  us  keep  our  courage  steady. 

For  the  light  is  at  the  end. 

"  We  shall  soon  be  called  to  travel 

Through  the  vale  of  death's  dark  shade; 
But  we  know  who  will  be  with  us, 

And  we  shall  not  be  afraid. 
We  shall  cheer  the  way  with  music. 

Walking  with  our  Saviour-Friend, 
Leaning  on  his  staff,  and  gazing 

At  the  light  that's  at  the  end." 

Probably  the  most  interesting  chapter  in  "My  Septuagint " 
is  the  first,  in  which  Dr.  Deems  wrote,  among  other  things: 
"  I  sit  in  my  study  and  talk  to  my  heart  and  dictate  these  lines, 
and  feel  that  I  am  approaching  the  experience  of  the  Apostle 
Paul :  '  For  me  to  Hve  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain.'  .  .  .  Being 
assured  of  the  immortality  of  my  spirit  because  of  my  spiritual 
alliance  with  him,  I  have  ceased  to  pray  to  be  delivered  from 
sudden  death,  which  may  be  a  blessing."  It  was  but  a  few 
short  months  after  penning  these  words  that,  one  day,  in  his 
study — it  was  December  i6,  1892 — his  pen  dropped  from  the 
hand  which  had  guided  it  so  patiently,  so  industriously,  so 
effectively,  for  so  many  years. 

He  did  not  appear  to  be  alarmed,  but  his  family  and  friends 
were.  It  was  hoped,  however,  that  it  was  only  "writers' 
cramp "  and  that  a  season  of  rest  would  make  all  right. 
Everything  was  done  to  shield  and  save  him.  But  he  insisted 
on  preaching  once  on  Sunday,  December  i8th.  In  the  morn- 
ing the  Rev.  Dr.  Heidt  preached,  and  in  the  evening,  sitting 
in  the  pulpit  chair,  a  picture  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
saw  him.  Dr.  Deems  preached  to  his  people  from  Colossians 
iii.  16:  "Let  the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all 
wisdom."  It  was  his  last  word  to  men  from  the  pulpit.* 
*  See  Appendix  L 


BEARING  MUCH  FRUIT 


337 


In  view  of  the  paralytic  stroke  which  fell  upon  him  ten  days 
later,  how  pathetic  the  following  letter  to  his  people,  read  from 
the  pulpit  and  published  in  the  "  Christian  Worker"! 

"  (Dictated.) 

"  Christmas,  1892. 

"  My  dear  People  :  I  seem  to  have  reached  another  sta- 
tion where  I  must  rest.  Such  is  the  verdict  of  my  consulting 
physicians,  and  they  lay  great  emphasis  on  the  7mist. 

"  I  am  glad  that  I  was  permitted  last  Sunday  night  to  talk 
to  you  awhile  on  that  blessed  passage  of  Holy  Scripture,  '  Let 
the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all  wisdom.'  I  leave 
that  with  you  while  I  go  away  to  rest  awhile. 

"  I  rejoice  to  know  that  already  such  beloved  servants  of 
God  as  Dr.  Schauffler,  Professor  Hamilton,  Edward  M.  Deems, 
and  John  Paul  Egbert  have  consented  to  serve  you.  You  will 
serve  the  interest  of  our  beloved  Church  of  the  Strangers  in 
proportion  as  you  love  it.    I  have  no  more  to  ask. 

"  I  know  that  you  will  remember  me  in  your  prayers ;  and 
you  know  that  I  will  return  to  my  pulpit  just  as  soon  as  I 
believe  it  right  to  give  myself  the  dear  delight  of  preaching  to 
you  the  gospel  of  our  blessed  God,  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever 
and  ever.  Amen! 

"Affectionately  yours, 

"  Charles  F.  Deems." 

And  this  paragraph,  with  which  he  closes  his  monthly  report 
to  his  church : 

"This  report  was  kindly  written  for  me  by  another  hand 
from  my  notes  and  journal.  Since  Friday,  i6th  inst.,  I  have 
been  unable  to  sign  my  name.  I  have  left  the  church  affairs 
in  the  hands  of  its  dear  officers,  who  have  been  always  so 
faithful.    I  go  aside  awhile  to  rest.    My  soul  is  in  perfect 


838 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


peace,  because  I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  per- 
suaded that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed 
unto  him  antil  that  day. 

"  Affectionately  and  faithfully  your  pastor, 
"Charles  F.  Deems." 


CHAPTER  XV 


EUTHANASIA 

DR.  Deems's  life  during  the  year  1892  was  intense,  labori- 
ous, and  fruitful.  Looking  back  upon  him  in  his  work 
at  this  time,  he  reminds  us  of  a  man  in  a  race,  who,  as  he 
realizes  that  he  is  near  the  goal,  by  a  supreme  effort  brings  to 
the  front  all  his  latent  powers.  His  records  show  that  from 
January  to  December,  1892,  he  delivered  in  the  form  of  ser- 
mons, lectures,  or  addresses  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine 
discourses.  This  involved  visiting  seven  different  States  in 
various  sections  of  the  Union.  Into  each  and  all  of  these 
discourses  he  flung  glowing  enthusiasm,  blended  with  the 
wisdom  which  comes  from  long  study  of  books  and  men.  An 
illustration  of  the  strain  to  which  he  subjected  himself  in  1892 
is  his  visit  to  Silver  Lake  Assembly,  in  western  New  York, 
where  he  delivered  to  vast  congregations  eight  powerful  dis- 
courses within  four  days. 

While  engaged  in  public  speaking  he  kept  up  also  his  work 
as  pastor,  president  of  the  American  Institute  of  Christian 
Philosophy,  and  member  or  officer  of  various  societies,  com- 
mittees, and  institutions.  In  February  his  mind  was  greatly 
exercised  by  the  question  of  the  wisdom  of  removing  the 
Church  of  the  Strangers  to  some  more  favorable  position.  It 
was  finally  decided  to  drop  the  consideration  of  that  matter 
for  a  time.  In  March  his  lifelong  and  beloved  friend,  Robert 
339 


340 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


S.  Moran,  D.D.,  died,  and  Dr.  Deems  was  one  of  the  speakers 
at  his  funeral  in  Wilmington,  N.  C.  In  August  General  James 
Lorimer  Graham  died,  and  in  October  Mrs.  Graham  passed 
away.  By  the  death  of  these  three  friends,  the  best  of  about 
his  own  age  he  had  in  all  the  world,  he  was  indeed  bereft. 

In  July,  1892,  the  eleventh  annual  international  convention 
of  the  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  held 
in  Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York  City,  and  Dr.  Deems 
made  a  host  of  friends  by  his  eloquent  address  of  welcome. 

On  August  15th,  while  travehng  with  his  wife  in  Canada, 
his  nerves  were  subjected  to  a  great  shock  by  a  thrilling  ex- 
perience on  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  Mrs.  Deems,  in  a  letter 
written  to  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Egbert,  said : 

"  Your  father  and  mother  have  made  the  narrowest  escape 
of  their  lives,  having  just  missed  being  dashed  to  pieces  in  the 
rapids.  We  left  Alexandria  Bay  on  the  new  steamer,  '  Colum- 
bian,' a  week  ago  last  Monday,  bound  for  Montreal,  which  we 
expected  to  reach  that  evening  about  seven  o'clock.  We  had 
a  perfect  day,  and  everything  went  well  until,  between  three 
and  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  rope  connecting  with 
the  steering-gear  suddenly  broke,  and  then  the  hand  steering- 
gear,  the  only  other  hope  of  saving  the  steamer,  also  broke. 
And  all  this  happened  while  we  were  in  the  midst  of  the  Cedar 
Rapids.  But  a  merciful  Providence  directed  us  to  a  small 
island,  where  we  were  stranded  on  the  rocks  around  it,  about 
thirty  feet  from  the  island. 

"  As  the  steamer  crashed  upon  the  rocks  I  thought  we  were 
gone ;  and  as  father  met  me  his  exclamation  was,  '  Well,  ma, 
let  us  thank  God  that  we  are  together,  whatever  befalls!'  and 
he  looked  so  as  though  he  thought  our  doom  was  imminent 
that  I  could  think  of  nothing  but  a  watery  grave.  But  our 
brave  crew  went  to  work  vigorously,  and  word  was  gotten  to 
a  small  village  not  far  off  in  Canada,  Vaudreuil,  and  the  boat- 
men came  rowing  over  the  rapids  to  the  relief  of  the  passengers. 


EUTHANASIA 


341 


"Trees  were  then  cut  down  off  this  thickly  wooded  httle 
island  and  with  wonderful  ingenuity  contrived  into  a  bridge 
from  the  steamer  to  the  island.  Then  the  steamer  was  securely 
moored  by  means  of  many  strong  ropes,  for  had  we  drifted  off 
there  seemed  no  hope  but  that  we  would  have  been  plunged 
right  into  the  most  fearful  of  the  rapids.  Well,  they  succeeded 
in  taking  about  half  the  passengers  over  before  dark,  having  to 
row  them  from  island  to  island  over  that  swift  current,  the 
passengers  (about  one  hundred  of  them)  walking  across  the 
three  islands  before  reaching  the  mainland  of  Canada.  Father 
and  I  remained  on  the  stranded  steamer,  preferring,  with  one 
hundred  others,  to  remain  on  board  until  the  next  morning, 
after  having  been  assured  that  there  was  no  possibility  of  being 
carried  off  the  rocks  in  the  night. 

"  A  religious  service  of  thanksgiving  was  held  on  the  boat 
at  night,  and  it  was  a  most  interesting  occasion.  The  next 
morning,  Tuesday,  all  who  had  remained  on  the  steamer  were 
carried  off ;  but  I  can  assure  you,  dear  daughter,  that  it  was 
not  without  fear  and  trembling  that  your  timid  little  mother 
committed  herself  to  the  rushing  water  in  the  small  boat.  But 
a  merciful  Father  was  better  to  us  than  all  our  fears,  and  we 
reached  Montreal  in  safety  at  2  p.m." 

The  remaining  months  of  1892  were  marked  by  experiences 
and  labors  similar  to  those  referred  to  already,  only,  if  possi- 
ble, they  were  even  more  intense  and  fruitful. 

Is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  Dr.  Deems's  powers  of  endur- 
ance at  last  broke  down  under  the  strain?  Although  for  ten 
days  after  his  last  sermon,  delivered  Sunday  evening,  Decem- 
ber 1 8th,  and  referred  to  in  the  preceding  chapter.  Dr.  Deems 
was  able  to  go  to  his  meals  at  the  New  York  Hotel  and  attend 
to  a  little  business,  such  as  dictating  letters,  church  reports,  etc., 
yet  his  right  side  continued  to  lose  feeling  and  motion.  The 
crisis  finally  came  Wednesday  evening,  December  28th.  He 
and  his  wife  were  sitting  quietly  in  their  room  at  the  hotel. 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


reading  and  talking,  when  suddenly  he  lost  all  power  of  speech 
and  all  control  of  his  right  side.    The  stroke  had  come. 

Mrs.  Deems  quickly  called  in  friends  in  the  hotel,  Dr.  Deems 
was  helped  to  bed,  a  physician  was  promptly  summoned,  and 
everything  possible  done.  But  it  was  all  of  no  avail.  He  was 
never  to  walk  or  talk  naturally  again.  Thursday  morning  the 
Rev.  Edward  M.  Deems  arrived  from  Hornellsville,  whence 
he  had  fortunately  started  the  evening  before,  expecting  to  find 
his  father  resting  comfortably.  Other  members  of  the  family 
promptly  arrived,  as  did  also  the  family  physician.  Dr.  Egbert 
Le  Fevre.  Dr.  Deems  had  not  lost  consciousness,  and  through- 
out his  eleven  months'  illness,  with  the  exception  of  half  the 
first  day  after  the  stroke,  his  mental  faculties  appeared  to  be 
almost  as  clear  as  they  had  ever  been. 

After  a  hurried  consultation  it  was  decided  to  move  the  patient 
i:nmediately  to  No.  131  West  Ninety-fifth  Street,  where  resided 
Mr.  Marion  J.  Verdery,  Dr.  Deems's  son-in-law.  Accordingly 
he  was  dressed  and  seated  in  a  light,  strong,  straight-backed 
chair,  in  which  his  son  Edward  and  Dr.  Le  Fevre  bore  him 
carefully  to  the  elevator  and  thence  to  a  carriage.  It  was  a 
long  drive  from  Waverly  Place  (Seventh  Street)  and  Broadway 
to  West  Ninety-fifth  Str.  et,  but  the  most  smoothly  paved  streets 
and  avenues  were  followed,  and  he  stood  the  trip  wonderfully 
well.  From  time  to  time  he  looked  out  of  the  carriage  windows 
with  a  dazed  expression,  but  appeared  to  be  in  no  pain.  After- 
ward he  gave  the  family  to  understand  that  he  had  no  recol- 
lection whatever  of  the  journey  from  the  hotel  to  the  house. 

Two  excellent  trained  nurses,  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Olmsted, 
were  secured,  one  for  the  day  and  one  for  the  night.  These 
men  were  with  Dr.  Deems  most  of  the  time  until  the  end,  and 
he  became  very  much  attached  to  them.  At  first  his  condi- 
tion improved  slowly  but  steadily.  A  few  visitors  were  per- 
mitted to  see  him  each  day,  and  he  kept  up  his  cheerfulness 
wonderfully.    He  made  a  few  attempts  to  write  with  his  left 


EUTHANASIA 


343 


hand,  but  that  was  soon  abandoned  as  subjecting  him  to  too 
much  mental  strain.  Then  a  few  of  the  words  in  more  common 
use  were  written  plainly  on  a  piece  of  Bristol-board,  in  order  that 
he  might  point  to  them  and  thus  make  known  his  ideas.  But 
this  well-meant  effort  also  proved  to  be  of  but  httle  practical 
use.  However,  the  family  and  the  nurses  soon  came  to  un- 
derstand quite  readily  his  wants  and  what  he  was  trying  to  say. 
He  could  usually  utter  the  main  words  in  a  sentence,  leaving 
the  hstener  to  supply  the  others,  always  rewarding  a  quick 
diviner  of  his  thought  with  a  smile  of  delight.  But  it  would 
be  difficult  to  imagine  a  more  pathetic  sight  than  the  silent, 
helpless  figure  of  this  man  who  for  sixty  years  had  been  dis- 
tinguished for  eloquent  speech  and  energetic  action.  At  first 
it  was  apparent  that  he  was  engaged  in  a  terrific  mental  and 
spiritual  battle,  but  it  was  soon  equally  evident  that  he  had  won 
the  day.  Then  patience  and  cheerfulness  were  his  to  the  end. 
Dr.  Deems's  many  friends  came  forward  nobly  and  cared 
for  the  church  and  the  Institute  of  Philosophy.  His  recrea- 
tions during  his  illness  consisted  in  seeing  his  friends  and  in 
listening  to  reading,  his  wife  generally  being  the  reader.  He 
had  the  newspapers  and  magazines  read  to  him  and  went 
through  several  works  of  fiction.  But  no  other  reading  was 
permitted  to  interfere  with  that  of  the  Word  of  God  and  his 
devotional  books.  The  letters  which  came  to  him  from  sym- 
pathizing friends  in  all  parts  of  the  land  proved  to  be  to  him 
a  source  of  great  comfort.  His  inability  to  attend  church 
services  was  a  sore  trial  to  him,  and  one  day,  as  the  family 
started  for  the  Church  of  the  Strangers,  he  broke  down  com- 
pletely and  wept.  But  he  sent  messages  to  the  church,  and 
early  in  the  year  1893  established  his  custom  of  selecting  and 
sending  a  verse  from  the  Scriptures  to  be  read  from  the  pulpit 
of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  as  a  message  from  the  absent 
pastor.  One  of  the  last  he  sent  was  prophetic :  "  At  evening 
time  it  shall  behght"  (Zech.  xiv.  7). 


344 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


During  the  first  three  months  of  1893,  as  has  been  intimated, 
Dr.  Deems  appeared  to  gain  in  strength  a  httle,  notwithstand- 
ing some  trouble  from  indigestion.  In  February  he  could, 
with  the  aid  of  the  nurse,  walk  across  the  room.  On  Febru- 
ary 17th  the  family,  while  waiting  for  the  new  home  in  West 
Seventy-sixth  Street  into  which  Mr.  Verdery  had  decided  to 
move,  went  into  a  commodious  home  at  No.  5 1 7  West  End  Ave- 
nue. March  and  April  were  comparatively  good  months  for 
Dr.  Deems.  It  was  while  living  on  West  End  Avenue  that  he 
uttered  the  complete  sentence  which  came  to  be  known  among 
many  of  his  friends  as  "  Dr.  Deems's  Easter  sermon."  Mr. 
Franklin  Putnam,  an  officer  of  the  Church  of  the  Strangers 
and  a  loyal  friend,  wrote  for  the  "  Christian  Worker  "  an  ac- 
count of  this  interesting  episode,  and  the  following  extract 
we  are  sure  will  be  appreciated  by  the  readers  of  this 
memoir : 

"  You  will  remember  that  it  was  a  lovely  and  charming  day 
throughout,  following  in  after  many  tedious  stormy  days;  it 
had  a  beneficent  effect  on  every  one,  sick  or  well.  It  was 
about  4  P.M.  when  I  called,  and  it  happened  everything  was 
favorable,  so  that  I  was  ushered  into  the  presence  of  Dr. 
Deems  at  once.  Having  heard  how  sick  and  helpless  he  had 
been  for  four  months  or  more,  I  naturally  expected  him  to 
appear  as  most  persons  would  under  such  circumstances,  very 
woebegone  and  broken  up.  Not  so  at  all ;  on  the  contrary, 
he  looked  as  brave  and  smiling  and  cheerful  as  if  nothing  at 
all  troubled  him.  He  could  not  rise,  but  he  put  out  his  left 
hand  and  tried  to  say  something,  which  I  interpreted  to  be  his 
old  familiar  '  How  are  you,  brother?  '  Then,  with  a  smile  on 
his  face,  he  pointed  out  of  doors,  and  I  knew  he  desired  to 
call  attention  to  the  beautiful  weather.  Then  he  listened  very 
attentively  to  something  I  had  to  say,  he  making  no  attempt 
to  reply  or  say  anything,  except,  perhaps,  in  monosyllables. 
He  is  an  excellent  listener. 


EUTHANASIA 


345 


"  Sothem,  the  actor,  used  to  say,  '  It's  rather  difficult  for 
one  bird  to  flock  all  by  himself,'  and  likewise  I  soon  found  it 
rather  difficult  to  carry  on  a  conversation  all  by  myself.  But 
as  soon  as  I  stopped  talking  and  the  silence  was  becoming 
prolonged,  a  characteristic  trait  of  Dr.  Deems  was  manifested. 
How  many  times  I  have  seen  him  come  to  the  relief  and  tide 
over  some  embarrassing  position  or  interval  for  others!  On 
this  occasion,  as  I  sat  there  looking  at  him,  not  knowing  just 
what  next  to  say,  suddenly  there  came  a  merry  twinkle  in  his 
eye,  and  he  straightened  up  as  best  he  could  and  put  on  a 
very  haughty,  proud  look,  at  the  same  time  pointing  alternately 
to  his  trousers  and  dressing-robe ;  but  the  more  I  tried  the  less 
I  seemed  to  comprehend  what  he  desired  me  to  understand 
by  his  pantomime  and  erratic  jumble  of  sounds  and  syllables, 
which  seemed  to  begin  where  they  should  leave  off,  and  vice 
versa.  At  last,  in  semi-despair,  he  looked  appealingly  to  '  little 
mother,'  who  was  present,  and  she  readily  interpreted  it, 
'  He  desires  you  to  observe  how  he  has  come  out  in  new 
Easter  dress,'  and  explained  that  the  garments  were  new  and 
that  it  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  dressed  since  Christ- 
mas. 

"After  that  he  made  several  other  attempts  to  say  some- 
thing to  me,  and  his  face  would  light  up  with  the  greatest 
eagerness  and  anxiety  in  his  effort  and  determination  to  over- 
come the  bondage  of  his  infirmity,  but  in  the  main  they  were 
failures.  It  was  after  one  of  these  prolonged  efforts,  in  which 
the  writer  and  '  litde  mother,'  to  whom  he  invariably  turned 
as  his  last  resort,  both  failed,  although  we  tried  so  hard 
to  understand  him,  that  he  sank  back  exhausted  by  his  effort 
and  failure,  and  such  a  look  of  utter  helplessness  came  over 
him,  my  emotions  were  almost  beyond  my  control.  I  was 
trying  to  think  of  some  word  of  sympathy,  some  word  of 
cheer  that  would  break  the  spell ;  but  my  heart  was  too  full  to 
utter  words,  and  as  I  looked  at  him  I  saw  a  solitary  tear  drop 


346 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


from  his  half-closed  eye.  The  silence  was  profound.  It 
seemed  to  me  something  not  unlike  the  agony  of  Jesus  when 
he  said,  '  Father,  if  it  be  possible.' 

"  It  was  at  this  supreme  moment  that  out  from  the  silence 
came  four  words,  spoken  very  slowly,  very  solemnly,  but  withal 
very  distinct :  '  My— faith— holds— out:  That  was  Dr.  Deems's 
Easter  sermon.  Whatever  from  my  imperfect,  weak  portrayal 
it  may  appear  to  others,  to  me  it  was  the  grandest,  the  most 
glorious,  the  most  impressive  sermon  of  his  life." 

About  the  middle  of  June  the  family  moved  to  No.  145 
West  Seventy-sixth  Street,  where  Dr.  Deems  had  every  com- 
fort that  loving  hearts  and  hands  could  provide  to  soothe  and 
sustain  him.  June  20th  was  a  red-letter  day  for  him  and  his 
good  wife,  for  on  that  date  their  golden  wedding  was  duly 
celebrated.  Many  visitors  called  at  the  house  and  left  greet- 
ings of  love.  Early  in  the  day  the  house  became  a  perfect 
flower  garden,  and  many  beautiful  golden  gifts  expressed  the 
love  of  friends  and  relatives.  Dr.  Deems  seemed  to  be  given 
special  strength  for  the  occasion  and  entered  into  it  with  an 
enthusiasm  which  was  to  all  a  surprise. 

In  July  an  effort  was  made  to  promote  progress  in  his  re- 
covery. Invited  to  visit  Mr.  John  Inman's  home  at  Stock- 
bridge,  Mass.,  Mr.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  whose  visits  and 
other  kind  attentions  contributed  so  much  to  lessen  the  trials 
of  Dr.  Deems's  last  days,  put  his  private  car  at  his  disposal. 
Accordingly  on  July  21st,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Deems,  Mrs. 
Verdery,  and  a  nurse,  he  went  to  Stockbridge.  So  far  from 
the  journey  on  the  train  injuring  the  patient,  it  gave  him  evi- 
dent pleasure.  But  on  the  second  day  of  his  stay  in  the  de- 
lightful and  hospitable  Inman  home  an  internal  complication 
set  in,  involving  high  fever  and  intense  pain  and  endangering 
his  life.  Within  a  few  days  he  was  taken  home,  and  after 
several  weeks  of  extremely  careful  treatment  was  restored 
almost  to  his  former  condition,  becoming  strong  enough  in 


EUTHANASIA 


347 


time  to  take  carriage  rides  and  occasionally  to  take  his  meals 
in  the  dining-room  with  the  family. 

During  the  fall  months  Dr.  Deems  was  troubled  more  and 
more  by  depression,  and  doubtless  was  losing  vitality.  It  was 
during  the  first  days  of  November  that  a  fresh  internal  com- 
plication set  in,  which,  although  not  very  painful,  refused  to 
yield  to  treatment  and  steadily  drained  away  his  strength  until, 
after  a  heroic  fight,  his  vitality  was  at  last  exhausted. 

During  the  Wednesday  night  preceding  the  end  Dr.  Deems 
several  times  made  signs  to  his  nurse  by  putting  his  hand  up 
to  his  mouth  as  though  in  the  act  of  drinking.  Was  it  water 
that  he  wanted?  "No."  Was  it  one  of  his  medicines? 
"  No."  Finally  the  nurse  asked  him  if  it  was  the  communion 
that  he  wished.  "Yes!"  was  indicated  vigorously  and  with 
smiles  and  expressions  of  deep  satisfaction.  Accordingly, 
before  breakfast  Thursday  morning,  the  family  were  assembled 
in  the  sick-room  around  his  bed,  and  Dr.  Deems's  son  Edward 
was  about  to  commence  the  tender  service,  when  his  father 
had  him  wait,  as  he  looked  around  the  circle  and  managed  to 
say,  "  Boy?  "  When  the  little  grandson  referred  to  was  found 
and  seated  near  his  grandfather  on  the  bed,  a  service  of  sur- 
passing tenderness  and  solemnity  was  held,  the  dying  Christian 
joining  in  here  and  there  with  a  word  in  the  service  that  he 
could  pronounce  in  the  Lord's  Prayer,  the  Gloria,  and  the 
benediction.  There  was  no  "  scene  "  ;  all  was  done  simply, 
naturally ;  but  never  will  the  participants  forget  that  commu- 
nion with  one  who  was  so  soon  to  see  "  the  King  in  his  beauty." 

Calling  his  faithful  wife  to  liis  side  early  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  same  day,  he  took  her  hand  and  gave  her  a  look  in  which 
was  not  only  recognition,  but  also  unutterable  affection,  and 
then  settled  back  on  his  couch. 

Dr.  Arbuthnot  wrote  to  Pope :  "  A  recovery  in  my  case  and 
at  my  age  is  impossible ;  the  kindest  wish  of  my  friends  is 
euthanasia."    Ninety-eight  years  thereafter  Lockhart,  when 


348 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


speaking  of  the  dying  hours  of  his  father-in-law,  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  said :  "  Dr.  Watson,  having  consulted  on  all  things  with 
Mr.  Clarkson  and  his  father,  resigned  the  patient  to  them  and 
returned  to  London.  None  of  them  could  have  any  hope  but 
that  of  soothing  irritation.  Recovery  was  no  longer  to  be 
thought  of,  but  there  might  be  euthanasia." 

When  Dr.  Deems  felt  himself  beginning  to  yield  to  the 
drowsiness  of  the  last  sleep  on  earth,  he  by  word  and  sign  gave 
Dr.  Le  Fevre,  his  devoted  physician,  whom  he  greatly  loved, 
to  understand  that  when  he  became  unconscious  it  was  his  wish 
that  no  further  attempts  should  be  made  to  keep  his  body 
alive  a  few  hours  longer,  that  no  hypodermics  of  stimulants  be 
given,  and  no  nourishment  administered.  He  knew  that  he 
was  falling  asleep  in  death,  that  on  earth  he  would  awaken 
nevermore,  and,  could  he  have  spoken  plainly,  he  would  have 
said  simply  this :  "  I  know  that  I  am  dying ;  recovery  in  my 
case  and  at  my  age  is  impossible  ;  all  that  mortal  skill  could 
do  has  been  done.  Let  me  sleep."  He  was  told  it  should 
be  as  he  wished. 

Not  long  after  this  he  passed  into  sleep,  and  slept  on  for 
many  hours ;  and  in  that  sleep  the  end  came.  Just  as  the 
clock  struck  ten  on  Saturday  evening,  November  i8,  1893,  his 
spirit  disengaged  itself  from  his  body  and  returned  to  God,  and 
one  of  the  most  useful,  eloquent,  lovable,  and  beloved  of  men, 
Charles  Force  Deems,  was  dead!  Dead?  How  hard,  how 
impossible,  it  was  and  is  for  those  who  loved  him  to  realize  it! 

The  tidings  of  the  death  of  the  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers  spread  rapidly  through  the  land,  and  as  they  were 
received  doubtless  many  a  tear  fell,  in  both  high  and  low 
places,  at  the  thought  of  the  passing  away  of  this  wise,  strong, 
holy,  and  lovable  man. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  Tuesday  noon,  November 
2 1  St,  in  his  beloved  Church  of  the  Strangers,  where  for  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  century  he  had  with  such  winning  eloquence 


EUTHAXASIA 


349 


preached  Christ  as  the  Saviour  of  the  world.*  For  two  hours 
before  the  services  began  the  body  lay  in  state  before  his  pulpit, 
and  thousands  of  people  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  and  classes 
looked  for  the  last  time  upon  the  face  of  him  whom  they  so 
deeply  loved.  Everything  connected  with  the  occasion  was 
marked  by  a  simplicity  accordant  with  his  tastes,  unless  one 
should  take  exception  to  the  profusion  of  flowers  which  love 
insisted  on  offering.  In  his  hand  was  a  beautiful  white  rose, 
placed  there  by  one  of  his  children  because  at  Dickinson 
College,  in  1839,  he  had  written  in  a  poem  dedicated  to  the 
white  rose  this  stanza : 

"  Rose  of  my  love!  when  chilling  death 
Shall  freeze  my  heart  with  his  icy  breath, 
I  would  have  thee  then,  companion  meet, 
Wrapped  in  the  folds  of  my  winding-sheet." 

The  church  was  filled  to  overflowing  with  people ;  many 
stood  out  in  Mercer  Street,  and  many  more  turned  sadly  away, 
unable  to  gain  entrance.  The  Rev.  Joseph  Merlin  Hodson, 
who  during  most  of  Dr.  Deems's  illness,  and  for  some 
months  after  his  death,  served  the  church  as  pastor,  con- 
ducted the  services.  The  faithful  church  choir  sang,  among 
other  things.  Dr.  Deems's  hymn,  "The  hght  is  at  the 
end."  The  Rev.  William  T.  Sabine,  D.D.,  offered  a  prayer 
which  seemed  inspired,  it  was  so  full  of  rich  consolation 
in  Clirist  Jesus.  After  a  brief  but  most  appropriate  and 
tender  address  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hodson,  the  Rev.  James  M. 
Buckley,  D.D.,  preached  the  sermon,  a  discourse  never  to  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  heard  it,  because  it  was  not  only  a 
just  and  eloquent  tribute  to  the  noble  dead,  but  also  an  un- 
speakable comfort  to  the  living.t    The  Rev.  Amory  H.  Brad- 

*  For  the  details  of  the  funeral,  including  the  addresses,  the  reader  may 
see  the  New  York  daily  papers  for  November  22,  1893;  also  the  "  Me- 
morial Number  of  'Christian  Thought,'"  February,  1893,  published  by 
W.  B.  Ketcham,  2  Cooper  Union,  New  York  City. 

t  See  Appendix  II. 


360 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


ford,  D.D.,  who  had  known  Dr.  Deems  long  and  intimately, 
and  who  had  been  so  loyal  to  the  American  Institute  of  Chris- 
tian Philosophy,  pronounced  the  benediction.  Then  followed 
the  impressive  masonic  rites,  conducted  by  Palestine  Com- 
mandery  of  Knights  Templars.  And  then,  amid  the  suppressed 
sobs  of  his  bereft  people,  the  sainted  pastor's  precious  body 
was  borne  out  of  the  scene  of  his  earthly  labors  to  be  laid  to 
rest  in  the  loving  care  of  him  who  is  able  to  keep  until  that 
day  all  that  we  commit  to  him.* 

At  the  lower  end  of  Staten  Island  the  still  thickly  wooded 
and  picturesque  hills  fall  abruptly  for  two  thirds  their  height, 
and  then  gradually  slope  downward  to  the  green  meadows 
which  extend  to  the  south  shore.  On-  a  plateau  of  this  slope 
stands  a  large,  square,  white  wooden  building,  the  old  Mora- 
vian church,  venerable  with  years.  On  all  sides  of  it  rise  the 
marble-covered  hills.  Immediately  around  the  old  church 
building,  beneath  evergreens  over  a  century  old,  lie  the  "  rude 
forefathers  of  the  hamlet,"  with  only  a  small  square  slab  of 
stone  laid  flatwise  over  the  breast.  The  prevailing  prefix  of 
"  Van  "  leaves  no  doubt  as  to  their  original  nationality,  and 
among  these  is  that  of  the  Vanderbilt  family,  one  of  whom, 
Mr.  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  the  commodore,  donated  at  one 
time  fifty  acres  of  land  to  the  cemetery. 

Standing  upon  any  one  of  the  higher  knolls  of  this  ideal 
"  God's-acre,"  and  looking  southward,  one  obtains  an  extensive 
and  beautiful  view.  The  little  hamlet  of  New  Dorp,  with  its 
quaint  and  scattered  farm-houses,  including  the  village  post- 
office  and  blacksmith's  shop,  lies  at  the  foot  of  the  knoll. 
Beyond  are  the  extensive  flat  lands,  which  gently  slope  to  the 
south  shore  of  the  island,  merging  into  the  blue  waters  of  the 
lower  bay  of  New  York  and  the  silver  gray  of  the  broad  At- 
lantic. At  the  right  can  be  seen  a  sapphire  strip  of  land 
known  as  Sandy  Hook,  with  a  stretch  of  the  Jersey  coast 
*  For  Memorials  of  Dr.  Deems  see  Appendix  III. 


EUTHANASIA 


351 


beyond,  while  at  the  left  there  is  a  full  view  of  Coney  Island, 
with  the  highlands  of  Long  Island  stretching  toward  Green- 
wood and  the  city  of  Brooklyn. 

On  the  side  nearest  the  sea  is  a  smooth,  grassy  terrace,  in 
the  middle  of  which  is  Dr.  Deems's  family  resting-place,  a  spot 
chosen  by  himself.  No  man  could  have  been  less  influenced 
by  material  considerations  than  he ;  yet  he  took  great  satisfac- 
tion in  knowing  that  here  he  was  to  sleep  until  the  Master 
whom  he  had  served  so  long  and  well  should  bid  him  arise 
and  be  forever  with  the  Lord. 

And  so,  upon  that  gray  autumnal  afternoon  of  Tuesday, 
November  21,  1893,  Charles  F.  Deems  was  laid  to  rest  there 
in  sight  of  the  great  wide  sea, — symbol  of  the  infinite  mercy  of 
God,— laid  to  rest  while  awaiting  the  breaking  of  that  resur- 
rection day,  the  contemplation  of  the  glories  of  which  once, 
while  preaching,  led  him  to  break  forth  in  this  language  of  holy 
rhapsody :  "  O  morning!  cloudless,  tearless,  brilliant,  balmy, 
and  everlasting!  O  men,  O  brothers!  bear  the  weeping.  The 
night  is  short;  the  morning  comes.  Break,  O  morning!  break 
on  the  souls  that  are  in  the  night  of  sin ;  and  on  our  graves 
break,  O  morning  of  the  everlasting  day ! " 

"  IN  MEMORIAM 

"  To  Charles  F.  Deems 

"  Friend  of  a  lifetime!    When,  long  years  ago, 
We  talked  of  death  as  of  a  legend  thing 
That  must  perforce  to  others  come,  and  bring 

New  lessons  and  new  skill  wherewith  to  know 

Their  meanings,  — whether  blent  of  joy  or  woe,— 
How  full  of  life  wert  thou!  how  strong  to  wring 
Its  secrets  from  the  royal  streams  th.Tt  spring 

In  venturous  thought  or  fancy's  overflow! 
Ah,  couldst  thou  not  a  little  longer  wait 

Thy  lagging  fellow-traveler  on  life's  road, 


352 


CHARLES  FORCE  DEEMS 


Now  grown  so  weary?    Thou  dost  ope  the  gate 
Too  soon,  that  shuts  the  human  path  we  trode. 
Thou  taught'st  me  much  of  life  to  live— then  why 
Couldst  thou  not  stay  and  teach  me  how  to  die? 

"  The  voice  we  knew  so  well,  whose  vibrant  tone 

The  hearts  of  thousands  thrilled ;  ' 

The  voice  that  challenged  us  to  scorn,  disown, 

All  meaner  aims,  all  selfishness  bemoan — 
Ah,  can  a  God  have  willed 
That  voice  like  this  be  stilled? 

"  The  willing  feet  that  trod  in  lingering  pain, 
With  humble,  patient  pace, 
Through  haunts  of  misery  and  guilt ;  that  fain 
Would  follow  other  wounded  feet,  whose  stain 
On  earth's  paths  left  their  trace- 
Have  such  feet  run  their  race? 

"  The  flashing,  subtle  intellect,  that  saw 

How  fittest  to  enshrine 
Its  vivid  imagery,  was  skilled  to  draw 
The  lightning  thought  from  heaven  to  earth  by  law 

Ineffable  and  fine — 

Gone  magic  so  divine? 

"  The  heart  that  loved  all  noble  love,  that  knew 

Fidelities  untold,— 
Knew  generous  sacrifice  for  love,  and  drew 
From  life  and  death  the  passion  to  be  true 

To  God, — can  death  enfold, 

Can  heart  like  this  be  cold? 

"A.  M.  N." 


APPENDIX 


I 

COPY  OF  THE  NOTES  OF  DR.  DEEMS'S  LAST  SERMON 

"Col.  iii.  1 6.  The  Word  of  Christ.  Embodied  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  New  Testament.  Different  ways  of  using 
the  Word.  i.  Outside,  as  a  rule  for  others,  or  instrument  of 
compression  for  ourselves.  2.  Inside.  But  it  may  be  poorly. 
(i)  In  the  memory,  undigested.  (2)  In  partial  influence  on 
our  lives.  But  the  apostle's  injunction  is :  i.  It  should  '  keep 
house';  2.  It  should  'keep  house  richly.'  Each  Christian  an 
incarnated  gospel.  The  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  The  precepts 
of  Christianity.  The  promises,  all  conditioned  ;  conditions  ful- 
filled, promises  enjoyed.    That  will  take  the  world." 

II 

ADDRESS  OF  JAMES  M.  BUCKLEY,  D.D.,  AT  THE  FUNERAL  OF 
CHARLES  F.  DEEMS,  D.D.,  TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  2  1,  1 893 

After  an  eloquent  account  of  Christianity's  view  of  life  and 
death,  Dr.  Buckley  proceeded  as  follows : 

"  The  question  of  the  hour :  What  was  the  view  of  life  and 
death  held  by  him  who  is  silent  here  for  the  first  time?  Did 
353 


354 


APPENDIX 


he  consider  it  to  be  transcendingly  important  that  he  should 
hve?  Did  he  wish  to  die,  or  did  he  hold  the  exact  view  that 
Christianity  requires— the  view  enforced  and  illustrated  by 
Paul?  Last  Thanksgiving  day  Dr.  Deems,  with  that  bold 
hand  which  his  friends  recognize  wherever  they  see  it,  wrote 
the  name  of  a  beloved  child,  and  then,  '  From  her  loving 
father.'  The  handwriting  has  outlived  the  hand,  so  frail  is 
human  life.    It  is  a  strange  book—'  My  Septuagint.' 

" '  The  name  of  this  book  probably  suggested  itself  to  my 
mind  because  what  it  contains  has  been  written  since  the 
LXXII.  anniversary  of  my  birthday.  ..."  How  does  a 
man  feel  at  threescore  years  and  ten  ? "  I  look  into  my 
heart  and  make  the  following  additional  response :  I  am  not 
conscious  of  having  any  of  those  several  symptoms  which  have 
generally  been  supposed  to  indicate  old  age,  except  the  one 
pointed  out  by  Solomon,  "They  shall  be  afraid  of  that  which 
is  high."  I  cannot  climb  as  I  once  could.  Four  flights  of 
stairs  tire  me  very  much,  and  I  am  sensible  of  a  secret  wish 
that  all  my  dear  parishioners  and  friends  might  live  on  the  first 
floor.  Otherwise,  as  I  write  to-day,  with  the  splendor  of  this 
beautiful  morning  streaming  into  my  study  and  lighting  up  the 
life-size  portrait  of  my  dear  wife,  who,  by  the  way,  has  borne 
with  my  manners  in  this  wilderness  nine  years  longer  than  the 
Lord  endured  Israel,  I  do  not  feel  any  lessening  of  the  abiHty 
of  my  body  to  give  me  pleasure.  Yesterday  three  meals  were 
eaten  with  as  keen  an  appetite  as  the  meals  I  took  at  college 
even  on  foot-ball  days.  I  did  more  in  the  week  preceding 
than  in  any  week  of  my  middle  hfe,  and  last  night  for  seven 
hours  slept  a  sleep  as  sweet  as  that  of  my  childhood.  I  enjoy 
beautiful  sights — landscapes,  lovely  women  and  children, 
statuary  and  paintings— as  much  as  I  ever  did  in  earher  life. 
I  enjoy  boys ;  I  love  to  see  them  at  play,  and  when  permitted 
to  join  them  I  enter  into  the  plans  and  purposes  of  young 
people  with  zest.' 


APPENDIX 


355 


"  He  was  serious  then,  but  he  becomes  more  serious. 

" '  I  find  myself,  I  do  believe,  this  day  more  willing  to  live 
and  more  willing  to  die  than  I  ever  did  in  any  day  before.  I 
find  myself  concerned  less  with  the  past  and  less  with  the 
future  than  I  ever  was  before.  I  have  the  abiding  conviction 
that  the  best  of  all  things  is  for  me  to  live  this  day  without 
stop,  without  haste,  with  all  my  power  of  doing  and  of  enjoy- 
ing the  things  which  God  has  given  me.  I  have  no  intention 
ever  to  retire.  Often,  very,  very  weary,  I  think  that  if  a 
syndicate  were  to  offer  me  ten  millions  of  dollars  to  take  care 
of  me  the  rest  of  my  life,  provided  I  would  promise  never 
again  to  speak  in  public,  never  again  to  make  an  engagement, 
never  again  to  take  an  appointment,  and  to  resign  now  all  the 
offices  I  hold  in  church,  in  school,  and  in  society,  I  would  re- 
fuse the  ten  millions,  although  I  may  not  have  ten  months,  or 
even  ten  days,  to  live.  ...  I  sit  in  my  study  and  talk  to  my 
heart  and  dictate  these  lines,  and  feel  that  I  am  approaching 
the  experience  of  the  Apostle  Paul :  "  For  me  to  live  is  Christ, 
and  to  die  is  gain."  .  .  .  Being  assured  of  the  immortahty  of 
my  spirit  because  of  my  spiritual  alliance  with  him,  I  have 
ceased  to  pray  to  be  delivered  from  sudden  death,  which  may 
be  a  blessing.' 

"  Five  days  after  having  placed  the  book  in  the  hand  of  his 
daughter  his  own  suddenly  refused  to  write.  It  was  the  be- 
ginning of  the  end.  He  then  understood  the  true  Christian 
theory  of  life,  earnestly  willing  to  live,  earnestly  willing  to  die, 
trustfully  leaving  it  to  him  in  whose  hands,  in  the  high  and 
holy  sense,  are  the  issues  of  life  and  death. 

"  Is  a  funeral  eulogium  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity? If  it  is  not,  at  this  moment  silence  becomes  us.  Not 
only  is  it  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  but  that 
spirit  will  pardon  forgetfulness  of  the  infirmities  of  those  whom 
we  know  to  have  been  true  to  it.  Did  not  the  friends  of 
Dorcas  assemble  and  speak  of  the  wondrous  work  she  had 


356 


APPENDIX 


done?  Did  not  St.  Paul  eulogize  his  friends  who  had  passed 
away?  Are  there  not  many  passages  in  the  New  Testament 
which  are  unqualified  eulogiums  of  the  departed  ?  But  excess 
or  indiscriminate  praise,— to  predicate  of  a  person  quahties  he 
never  possessed,  and  declare  him  a  model  in  realms  of  thought 
and  action  which  he  never  penetrated, — this  is  to  degrade  the 
memory  of  the  deceased  and  to  obscure  that  which  the  Holy 
Word  characterizes  thus :  '  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed.' 

"  Dr.  Deems  was  the  son  and  the  grandson  of  a  minister  of 
the  gospel.  The  influence  of  a  profession  where  health  and 
vigor  are  undisturbed  by  excess  is  often  seen  in  descendants  to 
the  third  and  even  the  tenth  generation.  He  was  born  with  a 
susceptibility  for  that  kind  of  excitement  without  which  oratory 
is  impossible.  Nature  qualified  him  for  pecuhar  success  in  any 
department  in  which  effectiveness  depends  upon  quick  response 
to  the  changing  moods  of  an  audience  and  upon  the  adaptive 
facility  which  enables  one,  whatever  the  grade  of  intellect  to 
which  he  speaks,  to  rise  or  to  sink,  not  in  moral  tone,  but  in 
exquisite  sensitiveness  to  the  lights  and  shades  of  thought  and 
expression  in  simplicity  or  complexity,  according  to  the  reflex 
influence  which  every  word  elicits  from  the  assembly  which  he 
addresses.  Without  the  call  to  the  ministry  he  whose  virtues 
we  endeavor  to  portray  this  day  might  have  made  a  lawyer  of 
extraordinary  success  or  a  popular  orator  in  the  political  world. 
He  could  lift  the  hand  from  the  head  of  the  sorrowing  boy 
who  wept  because  he  should  see  his  mother's  face  no  more,  and 
place  it  warm  and  sympathetic  in  the  hand  of  the  bride  on  her 
wedding-day.  And  quickly  as  he  could  turn  from  one  to  the 
other  the  appropriate  word  would  flow  to  the  lip,  the  tear  to 
the  eye.  Those  who  knew  not  the  man  would  say,  'This  is 
superficial ;  such  fluctuations  of  feeling  are  impossible.'  But 
he  Hved  in  the  atmosphere  of  sympathy.  He  loved  every 
human  being ;  therefore  such  transitions  would  ever  move  as 
rapidly  as  his  thought,  feeling,  and  sense  could  correspond  to 


APPENDIX 


357 


the  necessity.  He  was  a  scientist— not  as  an  expert,  but  as  a 
lover  and  student.  He  was  once  professor  of  natural  science 
in  an  important  college,  and  succeeded  admirably  therein. 
But  at  the  end  of  one  year  he  said,  '  There  is  not  sufficient 
play  for  my  emotions  here.  Oftentimes  I  wish  to  trace  the 
wonders  of  God  in  the  natural  world  and  declare  that  there 
only  a  part  of  the  Deity  is  known,  and  point  to  Christ,  in  whom 
the  whole  Deity  is  known.'  '  But,'  he  said, '  I  am  not  employed 
for  that,'  and  so  he  resumed  the  ministry. 

"  He  was  a  journalist,  but  his  efforts  were  all  in  the  realm 
of  morality  and  patriotism  and  good  things.  He  would  have 
been  out  of  place  upon  some  papers  and  magazines ;  would 
have  embarrassed  greatly  the  management,  and  would  have 
needed  constant  supervision.  Everything  that  he  did  in  the 
department  of  education  was  to  promote  Christian  education. 
He  appreciated  highly  the  State.  He  regarded  it  as  of  great 
importance  with  respect  to  the  higher  education.  He  had  no 
sympathy  with  one  of  his  intimate  friends  who  would  restrict 
the  education  provided  by  the  State  to  the  elements,  but  plac- 
ing upon  individuals  the  necessity  of  gaining  the  higher  edu- 
cation ;  but  he  beheved  that  denominational  education  was 
essential  to  supplement  the  State,  because  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble to  have  a  religious  institution  governed  exclusively  by  the 
State,  and  it  would  be  impossible  to  have  a  thoroughly  effec- 
tive Christian  institution  without  a  denominational  center. 
Therefore  he  used  his  influence  mightily  to  induce  his  friends 
to  contribute  largely  to  the  establishment  of  great  religious 
universities. 

"  As  a  lecturer  he  was  unquestionably  unique.  Almost  any 
good  speaker  can  preach,  especially  if  called  unto  that  voca- 
tion. But  to  be  able  to  preach  and  to  lecture!  He  could 
preach  as  well  as  he  could  lecture,  and  to  lecture  until  the 
whole  assembly  burst  into  peals  of  laughter  or  thunders  of  ap- 
plause, and  yet  never  utter  a  word  which  would  in  any  degree 


358 


APPENDIX 


militate  against  his  influence  or  detract  from  it  if  he  were  to  rise 
and  begin  a  rehgious  service  before  the  same  audience — to  do 
that  is  an  astonishing  power,  and  that  he  possessed.  When  at 
his  best  on  the  lecture  platform,  without  one  word  on  the  sub- 
ject of  religion  he  moved  men  in  that  direction.  When  from 
any  cause  he  was  less  elfective  in  the  pulpit  than  usual  there 
was  still  a  deep  undertone  of  power,  which  caused  men  to  for- 
get every  departure  from  any  particular  canon  of  pulpit  rhetoric 
or  pulpit  elocution. 

"  Graduated  from  an  important  institution  of  learning  and 
afterward  a  professor,  he  rose  triumphant  above  that  formal 
adherence  to  the  peculiarities  or  manners  of  professors,  which 
has  ruined  so  many  persons  of  brilliant  talent.  The  forthgoing 
of  his  personality  was  less  obstructed  than  that  of  any  public 
man  probably  in  this  metropolis.  It  was  a  peculiar  charm. 
You  felt  it  in  the  car,  in  the  counting-room,  as  really  as  in  the 
church.  He  was  magnetic,  with  the  magnetism  of  an  honest 
man's  personality  coming  out  at  the  ends  of  his  fingers,  giving  the 
peculiar  vibration  to  his  voice,  sparkling  in  his  eye.  He  may 
speak  or  be  silent,  but  where  he  is  it  comes  forth  and  is  felt. 
Why  consume  time  taken  from  many  cares  to  say  that  such  a 
man  was  a  philanthropist?  Without  that  all  would  have  fallen 
away  and  he  would  have  been  simply  one  of  those  cheerful 
men  who  go  to  and  fro.  His  presence  would  have  dehghted 
every  one,  but  it  would  not  have  affected  any  one  except  as 
the  song  of  one  that  singeth  well  or  as  the  mere  sound  of  a 
lute  across  the  water  in  a  quiet  evening.  Fraternity  is  one  of 
the  branches  of  philanthropy.  There  can  be  no  fraternity 
without  a  philanthropic  heart.  Men  without  that  may  observe 
the  etiquette  of  fraternity,  but  the  soul  is  not  there. 

"  He  was  a  reformer  who  never  lost  either  his  head  or  his 
heart.  Some  lose  their  heads;  they  will  die  for  a  pin  as 
quick  as  for  a  post,  and  all  their  days  fritter  away  their  efforts 
in  attempting  the  unattainable  and  in  denouncing  all  who  do 


APPENDIX 


369 


not  attempt  it  with  them.  It  was  not  so  with  him.  Others 
lose  their  hearts,  and  they  look  upon  one  thing  until  it  assumes 
proportions  of  unreal  magnitude,  and  declare  that  their  reform 
is  more  important  even  than  the  church  of  God.  Not  so  with 
him.  He  loved  institutions  of  different  kinds.  He  had  a  sym- 
pathy with  orders,  but  one  of  the  most  splendid  passages  that 
ever  fell  from  his  lips  was  this :  '  No  society,  moral  or  philan- 
thropic, purely  of  human  origin,  is  to  be  compared  with  or 
substituted  for  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ.  Nay,'  said  he, 
waxing  eloquent,  '  the  best  of  them  are  at  the  nadir,  while  the 
church  of  the  living  God,  founded  by  him  and  built  by  Jesus 
Christ,  is  at  the  zenith,  and  ever  it  will  remain.'  Yet  this  day 
a  demonstration  will  be  seen  that  he,  with  those  noble  views  of 
the  relation  of  purely  human  efforts  to  the  church  of  Christ, 
was  full  of  sympathy  with  the  former  while  giving  reverence 
and  supreme  devotion  only  to  the  latter. 

"A  peculiar  question  relating  to  the  Civil  War  should  not 
be  passed  unnoticed.  He  was  an  ardent  Union  man.  His 
heart  nearly  broke  when  his  State  decided  to  secede,  but  his 
creed,  with  respect  to  his  relations  to  the  country,  beheved  as 
conscientiously  as  it  is  possible  for  a  man  to  believe  anything, 
consisted  of  three  requirements,  in  this  order :  his  first  duty  is  to 
his  family  ;  his  second  duty  is  to  his  State  ;  his  third  duty  is  to 
the  federal  government.  What  man  is  there  who  observes  that 
nearly  every  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
has  a  powerful  dissenting  minority,  so  that  we  expect  to  see  as 
great  men  if  not  greater  men  than  the  propounder  of  an  opin- 
ion declaring  his  mistake  to  be  serious,  contrary  to  history,  and 
in  its  consequences  awful,  who  will  yet  say  that  Dr.  Deems,  after 
his  training,  education,  and  environment,  could  not  conscien- 
tiously believe  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go  with  his  State?  But 
how  went  he  with  his  State?  To  promote  cruelty,  perfidy, 
treachery?  By  no  means.  He  gave  his  eldest  son,  and  the 
boy  was  killed  at  Gettysburg  in  1863.    Had  our  friend  been 


360 


APPENDIX 


destitute  of  that  spirit  of  philanthropy  which  overleaped  all 
bounds,  he,  like  some  others,  would  never  have  communed 
with  those  who  directly  or  indirectly  robbed  him  of  his  son,  his 
beloved  son,  his  first-born.  But  no.  He  could  recognize  in 
us  what  he  claimed  for  himself,  and  thus,  coming  in  the  spirit 
of  fraternity,  the  spirit  of  a  reunited  country,  to  our  city,  he 
began  the  career  which  to  attempt  its  description  would  be  to 
insult  the  intelligence  and  the  knowledge  of  those  who  are  here 
to-day. 

"  He  united  the  abstract  and  the  concrete  in  a  wonderful 
manner.  Many  philosophers  are  useless  in  private  or  pubhc 
life.  They  are  mere  phantoms  except  in  their  libraries.  Others 
have  no  philosophy  and  waste  their  days  in  detail.  He  was  a 
philosopher  in  the  breadth  of  his  thought,  but  he  promoted  and 
he  proposed  practical  things.  He  was  the  founder  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy  and  the  editor  of 
its  organ,  '  Christian  Thought,'  until  his  death,  though  for 
some  time  obliged  to  avail  himself  of  the  aid  of  a  most  valu- 
able coadjutor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Devins,  who  during  all  his  sick- 
ness has  conferred  with  him  and  brought  forth  the  work  so  that 
those  who  read  it  find  in  each  succeeding  number  something 
worthy  of  careful  attention. 

"  He  was  without  doubt  a  complacent  man.  There  are 
those  who  misunderstand  the  relation  of  complacency  to  piety. 
They  think  that  it  is  necessary  for  a  person  to  declare  himself 
a  worm  of  the  dust  in  order  to  have  a  hope  in  heaven.  The 
artist  may  receive  the  congratulations  of  his  friends ;  nay,  more, 
he  may  exhibit  his  work.  The  lawyer  may  be  told  of  his  ex- 
traordinary addresses  at  the  bar,  and  it  is  perfectly  proper. 
The  merchant  may  be  praised  by  a  great  assembly,  who  will 
look  upon  him  as  a  kind  of  demigod,  and  none  condemn  either 
him  or  them.  But  if  a  Christian,  if  a  minister,  dare  to  show 
any  complacency,  many  will  say  that  he  is  a  man  of  '  like  pas- 
sions '  with  the  world.  And  so  the  apostles  declared  they  were 


APPENDIX 


361 


when  men  undertook  to  worship  them.  David  was  one  of  the 
most  complacent  men  that  ever  hved.  They  would  be  un- 
worthy a  place  in  the  canon  had  they  not  expressed  the  same 
complete  self-consciousness  of  his  spirit. 

"  This  book  begins  with  a  dedication  to  seventy  men  de- 
parted this  life.  [His  book.]  Were  I  to  read  these  names 
tears  would  come  to  many  an  eye,  for  the  sons  and  the  grand- 
sons are  here.  At  the  thought  of  a  similar  day  in  their  experi- 
ence to  that  experienced  this  day  by  these  bereaved  children, 
their  attention  would  be  distracted  from  the  occasion  of  the 
hour.  But  it  implies  a  species  of  complacency  for  a  man  to 
print  seventy  names  of  honored  men  among  his  friends ;  yet 
he  earned  their  friendship  by  good  deeds,  kind  words.  It  was 
right  for  him  to  be  complacent.  But  in  the  depth  of  his  soul 
he  was  most  humble.  Hear  this  prayer  of  his,  side  by  side 
with  one  of  his  most  complacent  utterances : 

"  '  Oh,  nail  it  to  thy  cross, 

My  wretched  carnal  pride, 
Which  glories  in  its  rags  and  dross, 

And  knows  no  wealth  beside : 
There  let  it  surely  die ; 

But  let  my  spirit  be 
Lifted,  to  sit  with  thee  on  high 

And  sweet  humility.' 

"  Such  complacency  is  not  degrading,  but  elevating.  It  is 
the  complacency  of  Paul,  who  said  when  he  came  to  die,  '  I 
am  now  ready  to  be  offered,'  contrasted  with  the  chief  of  sin- 
ners that  he  called  himself  all  his  life,  '  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand.  There  remains  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give 
me  at  that  day.'  Not  a  crown  of  humility,  but  a  crown  of 
justice  in  the  economy  of  grace.  So  that  the  cry  is,  '  Thanks 
be  to  God  for  his  unspeakable  gift.' 

"A  long  and  terrible  fight  was  that  in  the  sick-room.  A 


362 


APPENDIX 


man  who  was  never  sick,  who  divided  his  life  into  decades 
after  he  was  sixty,  and  gave  ten  years  to  the  need  of  the 
American  Institute  and  proposed  to  give  ten  years  more  to  a 
certain  subject  upon  which  he  conversed  with  his  friends,  and 
then,  fancying  that  he  might  Uve  longer,  said,  '  Should  I  hve 
still  longer,  I  hope  to  start  another  enterprise '—this  man 
eleven  long  months  in  his  sick-room!  Still  he  was  the  pastor 
of  a  church.    How  did  the  good  man  meet  his  fate? 

"  There  is  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  friends  to  make  every- 
thing beautiful  in  the  dying  Christian.  Our  power  of  discern- 
ment fails  when  our  friends  are  so  helpless  that  they  cannot 
speak  for  themselves,  and  so  it  would  be  suitable  to  breathe  a 
prayer  to  almighty  God  that  no  exaggeration  in  the  eulogist 
should  here  check  the  flow  of  respect,  admiration,  and  even 
veneration. 

"  His  industry  never  flagged.  He  had  his  office  desk 
brought  to  his  home  in  order  that  he  might  work  in  his  accus- 
tomed way  when  he  was  barely  able  to  sit  up.  The  day  before 
his  final  attack  he  sat  at  his  desk  arranging  his  papers  and  lay- 
ing out  his  correspondence  for  the  following  day ;  and  much, 
if  not  most,  of  his  correspondence  was  helpful,  and  scarce  any 
of  it  ever  asked  for  help — never  for  himself. 

"  His  appreciative  disposition  shone  out  beautifully,  always, 
through  his  manifold  gratitude  for  the  service  of  those  of  least 
kindred  to  him.  No  man  ever  loved  his  grandchildren  more 
than  he.  He  spoke  of  them  as  '  my  little  host  of  grandchil- 
dren.' Truly  he  was  blessed  in  them.  His  physician  never 
left  his  bedside,  so  I  am  informed  by  those  who  would  not 
misrepresent,  without  his  blessing  him,  and  he  would  some- 
times, when  he  could  not  speak,  kiss  the  hand  of  his  faithful 
nurse  for  some  act  of  thoughtful  attention. 

"  His  patience  never  failed.  He  uttered  no  word,  made  no 
sign  of  complaint,  but  in  hours  of  extremest  affliction,  though 
his  great  physical  depression  often  affected  the  flow  of  spirits, 
he  said  over  and  over  agam,  '  He  doeth  all  things  well.' 


APPENDIX 


363 


"  His  interest  in  all  things  touching  the  world  was  keen  to 
the  very  last.  His  first  inquiry  of  young  men  who  came  to 
see  him  was,  '  Tell  me  the  news.'  His  patriotism  lost  none  of 
its  ardor,  even  during  his  last  sickness.  When  Congress  was 
convened  in  extra  session  he  said  the  day  it  met,  '  Our  Presi- 
dent! what  a  responsibility!  I  pray  for  him  to-day.'  His 
humor  was  never  diminished  by  either  suffering  or  helplessness. 
He  was  unable  to  speak.  It  was  a  great  day  in  that  house 
when  he  could  repeat  a  whole  sentence,  and  once  he  was  so 
pleased  that  he  repeated  it  again  and  smiled  when  his  family 
applauded  him  as  though  he  were  receiving  the  applause  of  an 
audience.  How  pathetic!  One  day,  when  it  was  almost  im- 
possible for  him  to  articulate,  he  made  a  great  effort  and  said, 
'Well,  well!  I  am  not  on  speaking  terms  with  my  friends.' 
Think  what  being  on  speaking  terms  with  them  had  meant  for 
him  so  many  years.  Every  Sunday  but  three  during  his  entire 
sickness  he  selected  and  sent  to  this  congregation  a  scriptural 
text  for  their  comfort  and  spiritual  upbuilding.  His  trust  in 
God  sustained  him  to  the  uttermost.  Throughout  his  sickness 
his  testimony  was,  '  My  faith  holds  out,'  and  just  before  con- 
sciousness failed  he  said,  '  At  evening  time  there  is  light.' 

"  I  almost  tremble  to  say  to  you  that  a  little  while  before  the 
last  attack  he  looked  at  the  clock,  unable  to  speak,  looked  at 
his  son-in-law,  who  with  his  wife  and  their  children  ministered 
to  him  through  these  months,  and  significantly  shook  his  head, 
which  was  interpreted  to  mean  that  he  would  do  well  to  stay. 
He  looked  at  her  who  then  responded  to  that  homely  but 
homeful  word  'wife.'  He  gazed  so  wistfully,  and  then  he 
looked  at  his  son-in-law  so  intelligently,  and  at  his  daughter  so 
significantly,  that  they  could  not  but  gather  his  meaning  to  be, 
'Will  you  take  care  of  her? '  They  assured  him  that  needed 
no  assurance,  and  a  sweet  smile  of  satisfaction  rested  upon  his 
face.  .  .  . 

"  These  friends  need  no  commiserating  words  from  me.  In 
the  deep  sea  of  their  grief  that  they  shall  see  his  face  no  more 


364 


APPENDIX 


they  could  not  bear  congratulatory  words.  He  renounced  in 
dying  what  he  would  have  been  so  glad  to  have  done  for  you 
first.  You  could  smile  upon  him  and  read  to  him  and  do  so 
much  for  him.  How  he  longed  to  be  able  to  do  it  for  you! 
Let  at  least  this  gleam  of  comfort  shine  upon  you  in  your  dark- 
ness while  you  try,  perhaps  in  vain,  to  behold  the  light  this  day 
of  a  father's  face  (yet  I  would  fain  hope  that  you  possess  the 
spiritual  experience  and  power  which  will  enable  you  to  count 
his  body  among  the  things  that  are  seen,  but  his  spirit  among 
the  things  that  are  not  seen,  and  thus  triumph  over  the  afflic- 
tion of  the  hour) ;  but  as  a  faint  gleam  of  light  remember  that 
you  had  the  privilege  of  comforting  him  in  the  hour  and  the 
extremity  of  death."  * 


III 

MEMORIALS 

The  breadth  of  Dr.  Deems's  sympathies,  and  the  hold  on 
men's  respect  and  affection  which  he  had  gained  while  living, 
were  made  evident  after  his  decease  not  only  by  the  resolutions 
of  various  societies  and  institutions  already  referred  to,  but  also 
by  the  memorial  services  which  were  held  in  different  parts  of 
the  land  and  by  the  erection  of  the  Deems  Memorial  Chapel. 

On  the  very  day  of  the  funeral  a  service  in  commemoration 
of  Dr.  Deems  was  conducted  in  the  chapel  of  the  University 
of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel  Hill,  when  President  George 
T.  Winston,  at  whose  suggestion  it  was  held,  presided.  A 
memorial  service  was  held  in  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  on 
December  14,  1893,  and  still  another  in  the  auditorium  of 
Prohibition  Park,  Staten  Island,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  June  14, 

*  The  above  extract  is  from  the  "  Memorial  Number  of  Christian 
Thought,"  February,  1894. 


APPENDIX 


365 


1 896.  The  dedication  of  the  Deems  Memorial  Chapel  occurred 
at  Prohibition  Park,  Staten  Island,  on  Sunday,  May  24,  1896. 
This  beautiful  chapel  was  erected  to  Dr.  Deems's  memory  by 
the  members  of  the  Prohibition  Park  Young  People's  Society 
of  Christian  Endeavor. 

The  most  important  of  the  memorial  services  was  that  which 
was  held  in  the  Church  of  the  Strangers  on  December  14,  1893, 
about  one  month  after  Dr.  Deems's  death.  The  Rev.  Joseph 
Merhn  Hodson,  D.D.,  acting  pastor  at  the  time,  presided.* 
After  the  singing  of  the  hymn  "Abide  with  me,"  Chancellor 
MacCracken,  of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  read 
the  Scriptures.  Bishop  Fowler,  of  the  Methodist  Church,  then 
offered  prayer.  Brief  addresses,  full  of  respect,  tenderness, 
and  affection  for  Dr.  Deems,  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Thomas  Armitage,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Amory  H. 
Bradford,  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  Mont- 
clair,  N.  J.,  successor  to  Dr.  Deems  as  president  of  the  Ameri- 
can Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy,  Ex- Mayor  Abram  S. 
Hewitt,  and  Mr.  Marion  J.  Verdery,  a  son-in-law  of  Dr. 
Deems.  This  deeply  interesting  service  was  closed  appro- 
priately by  the  singing  of  Dr.  Deems's  comforting  and  inspiring 
hymn,  "  The  light  is  at  the  end." 

*  A  few  months  later  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hodson  became  pastor  of  the  Ford- 
ham  Heights  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  After  having  had  their  pulpit 
supplied  by  various  clergymen  for  over  two  years,  the  Church  of  the 
Strangers  finally  gave  a  hearty  call  to  the  Rev.  D.  Asa  Blackburn,  pastor 
of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  Charleston,  S.  C,  to  become 
their  pastor.  He  accepted  the  call,  was  installed  May  5,  1895,  and 
under  his  earnest  and  able  ministrations  the  church  is  to-day  a  living, 
growing  power  for  good  in  New  York  City. 


